The role of digital companies in the transformation of the Russian economic model

Abstract

Subject. The article deals with the transformation of the Russian economic model. Objectives. The purpose is to test the hypothesis about the impact of companies generating high added value (digital companies) on the economic model of the country. Methods. The study rests on general scientific principles and research methods, like abstraction, generalization of approaches of domestic and foreign authors to industrial policy, and the economic analysis. Results. I analyzed characteristic features of companies operating in industries with high and low generated added value, offered a five-stage methodology for assessing the key characteristics of companies. At the first stage, the production function of companies is investigated to determine the impact of the return on the resources involved and the presence of a multiplicative effect on the scale of the country's economy. At the second stage, the indicators of volatility, growth, marginality are analyzed to determine the impact of these characteristics on the dynamics of GDP. At the third stage, indicators of investment and innovation activity are calculated to assess their impact on the level of investment in the economy. The fourth stage is devoted to the analysis of the financial activities of companies, including their ability to attract external equity and debt capital, and to the evaluation of the distribution policy, which enables to conclude on company’s ability to attract resources for development. At the fifth stage, the capitalization rate and expected rate of profit growth of companies are evaluated to assess their investment attractiveness. Conclusions. The calculations performed on the basis of financial and non-financial statements of PAO MMC Norilsk Nickel and Yandex for 2022 lead to the conclusion that companies in industries generating high added value (digital companies) provide a multiplier effect, contribute to accelerating economic growth, increasing competitiveness, and improving the country's economic model. However, for the sustainable development of these companies, an industrial policy is needed to support and stimulate them.