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Digitalization and education: modelling spatial interactions in Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Irina-Denisa Munteanu

    (Institute of National Economy, Bucharest, Romania;Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania)

  • Zizi Goschin

    (Institute of National Economy, Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Education is a key factor for both short-term and long-term economic and social development of a country. Not only does human progress depend largely on the advancement of education, but improvements in education have a significant impact on a country's economic growth and affect resilience to crises, as well as balanced regional development and the reduction of disparities. On the other hand, digitalization is also an important factor of progress, playing a significant role in promoting innovation, economic growth and sustainable development. Given that the education system in Romania has undergone significant changes during the COVID-19 pandemic due to intensive interaction with digital technologies, our goal is to illustrate the spatial effects that digitalization has had on education. Method: The purpose of this paper is to analyse from a territorial perspective, at the level of development regions, the factors that contribute to the improvement of the educational system in Romania, with a focus on digitalization. To this end, a database was built including specific indicators relevant for both the educational and socio-economic sectors and the appropriate spatial analysis methods were applied. Spatial econometric models highlight regional connections impossible to identify with classical econometric methods. Results: The results obtained from the econometric models indicate statistically significant spatial effects, the spatial lag of the dependent variable education being positive and strongly significant. It means that there are strong interdependencies in the field of education between neighbouring regions: a region with a high educational index tends to be surrounded by regions that also have a high level of education. Conversely, a region with a low educational index tends to be surrounded by regions that also have a low level of education. In other words, groups of neighbouring regions exhibiting similarities in terms of education level tend to form throughout the country. Originality: The research uses advanced spatial methods that incorporate spatial interactions between neighbouring regions, thus providing a better and more complex image of territorial socio-economic processes, compared to traditional analyses. Results are useful for both the members of the education system, or any other person interested in this subject.

Suggested Citation

  • Irina-Denisa Munteanu & Zizi Goschin, 2026. "Digitalization and education: modelling spatial interactions in Romania," Romanian Journal of Economics, Institute of National Economy, vol. 62(1(71)), pages 5-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ine:journl:v:62:y:2026:i:71:p:5-16

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    References listed on IDEAS

    1. Yurii Safonov & Vira Usyk & Ievgen Bazhenkov, 2022. "Digital Transformations Of Education Policy," Baltic Journal of Economic Studies, Publishing house "Baltija Publishing", vol. 8(2).
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other
    • C19 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Other

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