Abstract:

In the current context, where technology is evolving rapidly, it is essential that states have the capacity to support digitalization at the economic level. The specialized literature uses a variety of indicators, from simple ones, such as the percentage of internet users or the population with basic digital skills, to complex composite indices, such as DESI or Networked Readiness Index. At the same time, recent research suggests that demographic dynamics such as migration can indirectly influence the European digital ecosystem, by changing the structure of human capital, an aspect addressed in the paper at a theoretical level.
The study aims to analyze to what extent GDP per capita and general education spending influence the level of digitalization, captured by the percentage of people using the internet. The methodology presents a cross-section analysis for the year 2023, intended to highlight the current hierarchy of member states and observe the evolution and persistence of the digital adoption process over the last decade.
The results indicate a positive and significant relationship between economic development and internet use, while education spending exerts a favorable but more moderate effect. The originality of the study lies in the integration of a rigorous empirical perspective with a theoretical contextualization that includes emerging demographic factors. The practical implications highlight the need to strengthen investments in human capital and monitor structural trends that may influence the pace of digital transformation in the European Union.