Human Potential in the Digitalization Context

The paper examines the readiness of Russian society to live in an increasingly digitalized environment and to function in it in a safe and effective manner. Based on the concept of human potential (HP), the authors proposed an operational model to measure its digital component. It was tested on the data of a representative survey of the Russian population (N = 10,038). This study provides the first estimates of the development of the digital component of HP among Russians and their readiness for life in the ‘digital world’. The results obtained present a more comprehensive picture compared to studies that focus exclusively on access to digital technologies and/or digital literacy. They confirm that various segments of society exhibit differing degrees of adaptation to the realities of digitalization, and almost a fifth of it has no digital component of HP or it is developed at a fairy low level. This blocks their access to the benefits of digitalization that groups with a higher level of digital component of HP derive for themselves. The reasons of this variation include not only socio-demographic characteristics, many of which have long been the focus of social research, but also individuals’ attitudes towards new technologies, their digital skills, and their jobs’ characteristics.

digitalization, human potential, digital skills, digital inequality, surveys