Digital Economy: Challenges for the Russian Statistics

Abstract

This is a printed version of the report presented by the author at the Extended Session of the Rosstat Board on 27 February 2018 in Moscow. The introductory part of the paper includes key objectives of the «Digital Economy of the Russian Federation» program that is aimed primarily at the transition of official statistics into improved technological foundation under the federal data management system. The digital analytical platform is a tool for creating such a system. Issues related to reducing the respondent burden can be addressed by using new technology. The author reviews basic directions for measuring the digital economy. The article considers the question of how the transformation of economic relations under the influence of the digital economy calls for changes in both the system of statistical indicators and the methodological approaches to their measurement. Characteristics of the interaction with the users of official statistical information, improving the expertise of specialists working in state statistics and the overall level of statistical literacy are amply discussed.