Published: 02/06/2023

The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) is the main tool used by the European Commission to measure the level of digitalization in EU countries. Although Poland achieved a score of 40.5 out of 100 in the index, placing it 24th among EU countries, the development level of several indicators is approaching that of the classification leaders, including Finland, Denmark, and Estonia. Despite the DESI methodology making it very difficult for member states to make any progress in the ranking, Poland is among the countries that are catching up fastest with the leaders. Currently, the index is undergoing a major transformation as part of the implementation of the Digital Decade, a new EU digitalization strategy. Therefore, changes are necessary in DESI to ensure a more objective assessment of the level of digitalization in individual EU countries, as outlined in the report by the Polish Economic Institute, "How to Measure the Digital Decade - Recommendations for an Evolution of the DESI Index."

DESI needs improvements

DESI provides a comprehensive description of the level of digitalization in EU Member States, but its drawback is its dependence on external factors such as the level of development of a particular country and socio-geographic conditions. There are occasional discrepancies between these factors and the rapidly changing reality.

"In the report, we highlight the importance of coordination at the national level. Fragmented actions related to digital topics, aimed at improving specific areas, do not contribute to maintaining the appropriate level of ambition and efficient use of limited resources. Within the country, there should be a clearly designated unit or entity responsible for coordinating the work of various ministries. The implementation of new digital goals - the Digital Decade, for which the European Commission requires the determination of pathways to achieve predefined objectives - is an opportune moment to reorganize cooperation among all institutions involved in the digitalization of Poland" emphasizes Ignacy Święcicki, Head of the Digital Economy Team at PIE.

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The Polish Economic Institute is a public economic think-tank dating back to 1928. Its research primarily spans macroeconomics, energy and climate, the world economy, economic foresight, the digital economy and behavioural economics. The Institute provides reports, analyses and recommendations for key areas of the economy and social life in Poland, taking into account the international situation.

Media contact: Ewa Balicka-Sawiak Press Spokesperson T: +48 727 427 918 E: ewa.balicka@pie.pracujenadtym.pl