Factors of firm competitiveness in the digital economy and multipolarity

This article examines the factors of firm competitiveness in the context of two key contemporary trends: economic digitalization and multipolarity. The authors analyzed firm evolution in relation to the development of a market economy and technological advances. They found that as firm’s competitive environment evolved, so did its competitiveness factors, as well as the scientific approaches to studying them. The contributions of Russian and international scholars to the study of external and internal factors of firm competitiveness were identified. A comparative analysis of firm competitiveness factors and their evolution revealed that technology has always been a decisive factor. The authors clarified the concept of “multipolarity,” established the relationship between the development of digital technologies and multipolarity, and identified the specific factors of firm competitiveness in a multipolar environment. Based on an analysis of modern economic and statistical data, international reporting, and expert assessments, the authors identified the key tools of the digital economy that are shaping technological trends of the near future: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and new user interfaces, and determined their impact on firm operations. The authors structured the external and internal factors of a company’s competitiveness in a digital economy in a multipolar world by type (economic, technological, institutional, and social), the type and nature of their impact on the company’s operations (direct and indirect), identified and analyzed the interrelations between these factors. A study of the application of digital economic tools revealed the high potential of artificial intelligence for comprehensively modeling a company’s external and internal environment. It was found that artificial intelligence significantly increases the efficiency of blockchain, cloud computing, and new user interfaces, and can therefore significantly enhance a company’s competitiveness in a digital economy in a multipolar world by reducing transformation and transaction costs and increasing not only the company’s material, technological, and financial potential, but its human potential as well.

1. Alekseenko O.A. (2015). Globalization and regionalization as defining trends in the process of formation of a polycentric system of international relations. Bulletin of Moscow University. Series 12: Political Sciences, no. 3, pp. 28–33. (In Russ.)

2. Belokonev S. Yu., Belitchenko P.D. (2025). Features of the application of the concept of multipolarity in describing the current state of the world economy. Regionalology, no. 33 (1), pp. 48–62. (In Russ.)

3. Berg T.I., Sharov V.S., Belonogova E.V. (2026). Ecosystem paradigm and digital innovations of e-commerce competitiveness. Economy, Entrepreneurship and Law, vol. 16, no. 1. (In Russ.)

4. Challen R. (2008). The state as a form of life. Moscow: ROSSPEN. (In Russ.)

5. Coase R. (2007). Firm, market and law. Trans. from English. Moscow: New Publishing House. 224 p. (In Russ.)

6. Dugin A.G. (2013). Theory of a multipolar world. Moscow: Eurasian Movement. (In Russ.)

7. Feigin G.F. (2024). The global economy as a multipolar economic system. Prospects for development. Bulletin of Eurasian Science, vol. 16, no. 3. (In Russ.)

8. Gereffy G. (2004). International economy and economic development. Economic Sociology: Electronic Journal, no. 5. (In Russ.) URL: https://ecsoc.hse.ru/data/2011/12/08/1208204956/ecsoc_t5_n5.pdf#page=35

9. Gulakova O.V. (2021). Main directions in the study of customer focus: prerequisites for formation, levels, and effectiveness. Moscow University Bulletin. Series 6 Economics, no. 21 (2), pp. 73–117. (In Russ.)

10. Hayek F. (2023). Fatal arrogance. Moscow: AST Publishers. 288 p. (In Russ.)

11. Huntington S. (2020). Clash of civilizations. Moscow: AST Publishing House. (In Russ.)

12. Izmailova A.A., Budrin A.G. (2025). The influence of the type of digital product on its life cycle. Economics of Contemporary Russia, no. 28(3), pp. 54–63. (In Russ.)

13. Kashevarova N.A., Kulikova M.E. (2024). Integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence as a mechanism for modernization of various sectors of the economy. University Bulletin, no. 5, pp. 54–67. (In Russ.)

14. Khatskelevich, A.N., Rudakov S.A., Egorov G.A. (2024). Application of artificial intelligence technologies as one of the factors of business competitiveness in the fourth industrial revolution. Bulletin of PNRPU. Social and Economic Sciences, no. 1, pp. 184–199. (In Russ.)

15. Kleiner G.B. (2019). Ecosystem economics: a step into the future. Economic Revival of Russia, no. 1(59), pp. 40–45. (In Russ.)

16. Kleiner G.B. (2021). Intelligent theory of the firm. Voprosy Ekonomiki, no. 1, pp. 73–97. (In Russ.)

17. Kleiner G.B. (2023). A new look at the socio-economic space: A. Bogdanov’s organizational and managerial model. Systems Analysis in Design and Management. Collection of scientific papers of the XXVI International Scientific and Practical Conference. In 3 p. St. Petersburg, pp. 14–20. (In Russ.)

18. Kleiner G.B. (2024a). Multipolar management of the organization. Russian Management Journal, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 163–178. (In Russ.)

19. Kleiner G.B. (2024b). Systems paradigm and theory of technology. Terra Economicus, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 6–18.

20. (In Russ.)

21. Kleiner G.B. (2024c). Systemic economy, fair society, effective competition: imperatives of tomorrow. Modern Competition, vol. 18, no. 4 (100), pp. 6–20. (In Russ.)

22. Komarova I.P., Ustyuzhanin V.L. (2018). Long-term competitiveness of companies: main challenges. Economics of Contemporary Russia, no. 4(83), pp. 102–114. (In Russ.)

23. Kostin A.I., Izotov V.S. (2015). Integration systems in the paradigm of globalistics: updating research approaches. Bulletin of Moscow University. Series 12: Political Sciences, no. 2, pp. 7–32. (In Russ.)

24. Lagutina M.L. (2015). World political system in the context of global regionalization. Eurasian Integration: Economics, Law, Politics, no. 2, pp. 134–140. (In Russ.)

25. Martynov B.F. 2009. Multipolar or multicivilizational world? International Processes, vol. 7, no. 3(21), pp. 60–68. (In Russ.)

26. McConnell K.R., Brew S.L. (1992). Economics: principles, problems and policy. Moscow: Republic, vol. 1, pp. 108. (In Russ.)

27. Misyurov D.A. (1997). The world community in search of new imperatives. The world community in search of new imperatives: the transition to a global multipolar system as a way out of the global economic and political crisis. Power. Politics. Diplomacy. Spiritual Foundations of Russia’s Foreign Policy. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (February 15, 1996). Moscow: Nauchnaya Kniga. (In Russ.)

28. Peredelsky D. (2024). Archaeologists have found the oldest private company. (In Russ.) URL: https://rg.ru/2024/05/29/chastnaya-firma.html

29. Primakov E.M. (1996). On the horizon — ​a multipolar world. International Affairs, no. 10, pp. 3–13. (In Russ.)

30. Ratzel F. (1994). Ethnology. St. Petersburg, 1904 (transl. from Germ. in Russian).

31. Reutov V.E. (2016). The role of global regionalization in a multipolar world. Trends in the Development of Science and Education, no. 14–1, pp. 42–44. (In Russ.)

32. Ryzhov I.V. (2022). Historical conditions of the emergence and essence of mercantilism. Journal of Applied Research, no. 5, pp. 42–45. (In Russ.)

33. Sazanova S.L., Karmanov N.N. (2024). The potential of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurship. Entrepreneur’s Guide, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 11–18. (In Russ.)

34. Sazanova S.L., Karmanov N.N. (2025). Transnational companies and global governance institutions in the metamodern economy. Economy. Taxes. Law, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 90–97. (In Russ.)

35. Sazanova S.L., Rogozhin S.P. (2025). Historical and economic foundations of the public-private partnership institute in Russia. Scientific Works of the Free Economic Society of Russia, vol. 253, no. 3, pp. 378–385. (In Russ.)

36. Selishcheva T.A., Zhou W. et al. (2016). Eurasian economy and the idea of a multipolar world in the context of globalization and regionalization. Problems of Modern Economy, no. 1(57), pp. 6–11. (In Russ.)

37. Soluyanov V.S. (2021). The concept of multipolarity: diversity of approaches and interpretations. Bulletin of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Series: Political Science, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 424–445. (In Russ.)

38. Surtaeva O.S. (2022). Using the potential of artificial intelligence in strategic analysis of the enterprise’s external environment. Economic Systems, vol. 15, no. 2 (57), pp. 54–65. (In Russ.)

39. Uzhegov A.O., Tikhonova O.K. (2025). Digital economy: stages of development and legislative regulation. Bulletin of Tyumen State University. Socioeconomic and Legal Research, vol. 11, no. 1(41), pp. 174–197. (In Russ.)

40. Voloshin A.V., Aleksandrov Yu.L. (2017). Evolution of theories of competition and competitiveness in economic science. Fundamental Research, no. 4–2, pp. 330–338. (In Russ.)

41. Wallerstein I. (2003). After liberalism: Trans. from English. Ed. by B. Yu. Kagarlitsky. Moscow: Editorial URSS. 256 p. (In Russ.)

42. Arntz M., Böhm M. et al. (2024). Firm-level technology adoption in times of crisis. ZEW Discussion Papers, 24-057, ZEW. Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

43. Blagden D. (2015). Global multipolarity, European security and implications for UK Grand Strategy: back to the future, once again. International Affairs, vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 333–350. DOI: 10.1111/1468-2346.12238

44. Blagden D. (2019). Power, polarity, and prudence: the ambiguities and implications of UK discourse on a multipolar international system. Defense Studies, vol. 19, no 3, рр. 209–234. DOI: 10.1080/14702436.2019.1643243

45. Brynjolfsson E. (2022). The Turing trap: the promise & peril of human-like artificial intelligence. URL: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/the-turing-trap-the-promise-peril-of-human-like-artificial-intelligence/?utm_source=Stanford+HAI&utm_campaign=504eac4e99-Mailchimp_HAI_Newsletter_January+2022_2_General&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_aaf04f4a4b‑504eac4e99-214030166

46. Coker C. (2019). The rise of the civilizational state. 1st ed. Polity.

47. Cullen Z.B., Fai E. et al. (2025). The innovation race: experimental evidence on advanced technologies. December 2025. Working Paper, 34532. URL: https://www.nber.org/papers/w34532

48. De Keyser B., Vandenbempt K. (2025). Shaping the system through turbulence: strategic leadership and the micro-foundations of ecosystem orchestration in times of disruption. Journal of Management Studies. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.70054

49. Delong M. (2020). The Concept of Russian Federation Foreign and Security Policy by Eugene Primakov. Internal Security, (January–June), no. 12(1), pp. 307–318.

50. Friedmann J. (1966). Regional development policy: a case study of Venezuela. Cambridge (Mass.): MIT Press. 279 p.

51. Kleiner G.B., Ganichev N.A., Rybachuk M.A. (2025). Strategic priorities of systems management of Russian companies as a means of overcoming technological imbalances of digitalization. Studies on Russian Economic Development, vol. 36 (6) pp. 812–822. DOI: 10.1134/S1075700725700546

52. Kongo Gumi (2007). Official website of the company. URL: https://www.kongogumi.co.jp/

53. Martill B., Ten Brinke L. (2020). Europe in a multipolar world. Strategic Updates. LSE IDEAS. London (UK). London School of Economics and Political Science.

54. Maslej N., Fattorini L. et al. (2025). The AI Index 2025 Annual Report, AI Index Steering Committee, Institute for Human-Centered AI Stanford University. Stanford (CA), April 2025. URL: https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2025‑ai-index-report

55. McElheran K., Li J.F. et al. (2024). AI adoption in America: who, what, and where. Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, vol. 33(2), pp. 375–415, March.

56. Moore J.F. (1993). Predators and prey: a new ecology of competition. Harvard Business Review, May/June, pp. 75–86.

57. Moore J.F. (1996). The death of competition: leadership & strategy in the age of business ecosystems. New York: Harper Business.

58. Moore J.F. (1998). The rise of a new corporate form. Washington Quarterly, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 167–181.

59. Moore J.F. (2006). Business ecosystems and the view from the firm (PDF). The Antitrust Bulletin, vol. 51(1), pp. 31–75.

60. Nachira F., Dini P., Nicolai A. (2007). A network of digital business ecosystems for Europe: roots, processes and perspectives. Brussels: European Commission. Introductory Paper. URL: https://studyres.com/doc/16007332/a-network-of-digital-business-ecosystems-for-europe-roots

61. Nelson R., Winter S. (1985). An evolutionary theory of economic change. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 454 p.

62. Panetta K. (2017). 8 Dimensions of business ecosystems. URL: https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/8‑dimensions-of-businessecosystems

63. Pigola A., Fischer B., Marcondes de Moraes H. (2024). Impacts of digital entrepreneurial ecosystems on sustainable development: insights from Latin America. Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pp. 1–30, September.

64. Rashid A.B., Kausi A.K. (2024). AI revolutionizing industries worldwide: A comprehensive overview of its diverse applications. Hybrid Advances, vol. 7, December 2024, 100277. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hybadv.2024.100277

65. Richards D., Allenby B., Frosch R. (1994). The greening of industrial ecosystems: overview and perspective. The Greening of Industrial Ecosystems. Washington (DC): National Academy Press, pp. 1–19.

66. Taherdoost H. (2022). Blockchain technology and artificial intelligence together: a critical review of applications. Applied Sciences, December, vol. 12(24), no. 12948. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366407533_Blockchain_Technology_and_Artificial_Intelligence_Together_A_Critical_Review_on_

67. Applications

68. Thang N. Dinh, My T. Thai. (2018). AI and blockchain: a disruptive integration. IEEE Computer, September. IEEE Computer Society. URL: https://www.osp.ru/os/2018/04/13054611

69. The state of AI in early 2024 (2024). Gen AI adoption spikes and starts to generate value. McKinsey & Company. URL: https://blog.pmpractice.ru/2024/07/10/отчет-mckinsey-состояние-ии-в-начале‑2024‑года/

70. Wladawsky-Berger I. (2023). Digital economy: the evolution of the digital economy. Ubiquity, vol. 2023, March, pp. 1–6. URL: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3587258

71. Xia Y., Lv G. et al. (2023). Evolution of digital economy research: a bibliometric analysis. International Review of Economics & Finance, vol. 88, pp. 1151–1172. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2023.07.051

72. Yu Y., Jiang Y. (2024). Evolution history of the digital economy. Understanding the Digital Revolution and Its Influences. Singapore: Springer. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4939-3_2

73. Zolas N., Kroff Z. et al. (2020). Advanced technologies adoption and use by U.S. firms: evidence from the annual business survey. NBER Working Papers, 28290. National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. URL: https://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/28290.html