Introduction
Research frameworks in the digital economy are essential for structuring inquiry, clarifying concepts, and guiding both empirical and policy work. This topic synthesizes the most influential frameworks, highlights current trends, and identifies key gaps and future directions.
Major Frameworks and Models
The IBCDE Framework
One of the most comprehensive recent frameworks proposes five core perspectives to capture the complexity of the digital economy:
- Infrastructure: Networks, data centers, computing resources
- B-to-B Platforms: Industrial digitalization platforms
- C-to-C Platforms: Consumer-facing two-sided platforms
- Data Ecosystem: Collection, processing, utilization of data
- Economic Contexts: Regulatory and institutional environment
Sectoral and Thematic Frameworks
Recent research has developed specialized frameworks for:
- Circular Economy and Sustainability
- Entrepreneurial and Ecosystem Models
- Smart Cities and Regional Resilience
- Institutional and Policy Frameworks