Institutional Changes in the Russian Public Procurement System During the Process of Digitalization

Abstract

This article presents a concept and identifies the parameters of institutional changes in the modern economic system. Their application to the Russian Federation's national procurement system allowed us to identify problems arising in the context of technological and anti-sanction innovations and propose solutions. The advantages and problem areas of deepening digitalization of the contracting system are explored, and the impact of new technologies on procurement procedures is assessed. Particular attention is paid to the dynamics of institutional change as a theoretical construct for transforming the public procurement system, increasing its transparency (by 2022), efficiency, and competitiveness. Two rounds of empirical research were conducted using online surveys of contracting system participants in 2021 and 2025 to assess satisfaction levels and identify the needs of customers and suppliers for innovative digital solutions as part of the implementation of anti-sanctions policy. A comparison of the processed results of two online surveys revealed that over four years, the share of government customers expressing a need for digital technology development, primarily the implementation of a "digital assistant," as well as the creation of data analysis platforms aimed at minimizing corruption risks, increased from 70,6% to 72,6%. Problem areas in digitalization resulting from the implementation of anti-sanctions policies were identified, including decreased transparency and a lack of necessary equipment, particularly among municipal customers. Overall, the results of the empirical analysis confirmed the hypothesis of a high customer demand for new technologies that automate routine operations and improve the efficiency and quality of public procurement. The conclusion emphasizes the importance and necessity of adapting national anti-sanctions legislation and new organizational approaches to modern high-tech realities for the sustainable development of the contract procurement system in the face of technological and anti-sanctions innovations.