Digital Development of Russian Regions: Prospects and Contradictions in a Period of Turbulence

This paper studies modern factors of turbulence and assessing ability of Russian regions to adapt to the changes by implementing accelerated digitalization. The research systematizes the factors of turbulence that influence on regions. The paper identifies turbulence factors as economic systems challenges, studies global turbulence at the stage of maximum manifestation of uncertainty and chaos, concludes and proposes options for managing regional economic systems during global turbulence. The expansion of turbulence factors requires measures to adapt to uncertain conditions. (1) The increase in demand from the population for online goods and services. (2) Ensuring opportunities for rural and urban areas to become a separate area of regional policy. (3) Improvement of the educational complex of the region in terms of creating digital platforms for training and retraining the population of regions. (4) Further stimulating the digitalization of public administration and the social sphere. (5) Strengthening the cybersecurity of regional economic entities. The paper lets to conclude that during the turbulence of 2019–2021, the digital development of Russia’s regions accelerated the varying degrees of adaptation of regional economic systems to changing conditions. It is proved that the expansion of turbulence factors requires adaptation measures to uncertain conditions. The authors propose the directions of adaptation of Russian regions to the conditions of turbulence.