Introduction: Digitalization as a Driver of the Contemporary Economy

Abstract

AbstractMilena Ratajczak-Mrozek and Paweł Marszałek discuss how digitalization and digital technologies are impacting markets, firms and financial institutions. They stress the need for adopting the interdisciplinary (taking into account not only economic, but also legal and social dimensions) approach in research on digitalization, as such approach provides a comprehensive view of the process, its manifestations, features and impact. The authors also identify six channels through which digitalization has had an impact on the economy. They argue that digitalization may be considered in the context of both challenges and opportunities set by digital technologies for business models and business operations and markets, as well as the main driver of growth and competitiveness for markets and firms/businesses. In this context, the authors introduce 10 chapters of the book and present the links between different level of analysis—micro, mezzo and macro.