Digital Ecosystems as New Economic Systems: Content, Properties, and Development Factors

The research outlines a new approach to studying digital ecosystems. The authors consider these ecosystems as an independent and significant phenomenon in economic science. In this research, the authors resolve two interrelated tasks. The first task is to determine the content of digital ecosystems. The second task is to describe the properties inherent in digital ecosystems as a special type of economic system. The presented research is based on a comprehensive study of digital ecosystems using a combination of positive and normative methodologies. The authors use a normative methodology to determine the essence and properties of digital ecosystems. A positive methodology is used to describe the past, current, and future state of ecosystems through observation and collection of facts characterizing digital ecosystems. Digital ecosystems are a multidimensional category that can be considered as transdisciplinary. Digital ecosystems represent a digital information socio-economic system, a digital tool of entrepreneurship, a driver of positive economic effects, a software product, a communication structure, and an infrastructure tool. Digital ecosystems are typified by broad system properties, local socio-economic system characteristics, and digital system features, alongside attributes of client-centricity and collectivity. Digital ecosystems are a new form of socio-economic system that facilitates the development of novel and existing business models. This approach creates competitive advantages for organizations and consumers, as the multi-disciplinary and multi-format content is accessible through digital environments. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.