SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SMART CITIES: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The article examines the distinctive features of Azerbaijan's digital transformation within the global smart city paradigm. Drawing on an analysis of national digitalization policy, the operational experience of the ASAN xidmət e-government system, and the pilot smart village project in Agaly, the study identifies the key characteristics of the Azerbaijani model: a strong state-led coordination role, the one-stop-shop principle for public service delivery, and a comprehensive territorial development approach integrating renewable energy, digital infrastructure management, and precision agriculture. The direct socio-economic effects of the initiatives are assessed, including reduction of administrative barriers, mitigation of corruption risks, and improvement of residents' quality of life. The paper concludes that Azerbaijan's digital transformation model constitutes a replicable precedent for transition economies seeking to combine technological modernization with sustainable spatial development objectives.