Evaluation of Digital Development Based on the International Digital Economy and Society Index 2020 Data

Abstract

Digitalization and technological advances develop together with our society. The European Commission intends to monitor this development using the International Digital and Society Index (I-DESI) and provide an objective comparison of the participating countries. This comparison of the counties can be an important part of the roadmap of digital transformation for companies and other participants in the market. The aim of this study is to further analyze the 2020 data of I-DESI using multivariate statistical methods not included in the official report. Our objective is to show whether there are differences between the EU and non-EU countries (discriminant analysis, variance analysis), whether the dimensions of the I-DESI index are overlapping (correlation analysis, factor analysis), and whether different country groups can be formed (cluster analysis). Answering these questions, we can give a useful tool to companies for a more successful digital transformation.