Social aspects of migrants’ adaptation in Russia in the digital economy

Abstract

The state, due to its socio-economic nature, must regulate and control the most important social processes. Migration is an important part of these processes, since the attraction of additional labor resources will give a certain impetus to the sustainable development of the country and ensure long-term economic growth. However, the implementation of migration policy is associated with a whole range of problems. The problems of social and digital adaptation of migrants, social and territorial disunity are among them. Added to this is the lack of effective interaction between public authorities and municipalities with civil society institutions, as well as the presence of a clear bias in ensuring equal opportunities in obtaining public services, depending on the level of income, migration status and other factors. The weak role of civil institutions in social and cultural adaptation and the language barrier also exacerbate the situation. The dominance of unskilled personnel in the structure of migration flows aggravates their digital adaptation. The digitalisation of many processes could have a signifcant impact in solving these problems. With its help, an effective institutional environment would gradually form. This article examines the social aspects of migrants’ adaptation in the context of digitalization. In the course of the research, the author conducted a comprehensive analysis, including observations, expert interviews and analysis of regulatory documents. The paper considers various aspects of the adaptation of migrants within the framework of political, socio-economic, psychological, national and demographic problems. As the study showed, in the context of digitalization it is necessary to form a fundamentally new institutional environment in the feld of adaptation of migrants in the host country. A qualitatively different regulatory framework, new institutions that harmonize the interests of the state, civil society, business and migrants should become a part of this environment.