MEASURING DIGITAL SKILLS IN EUROPE AND SPAIN: A CRITICAL REVIEW.

In the current context of digital acceleration, having digital skills has become a necessity to avoid falling behind. In this regard, it is essential to understand the level of competencies of the population and take appropriate measures in relation to their evolution. Through the following study, a review of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) is conducted as the main source for measuring European and Spanish digital performance, as well as the digital competencies of the population. From this review, some biases linked to the definition of the study group and the design of the survey on which it bases its results are identified. On the other hand, some limitations related to data aggregation that may mask the situation of vulnerable groups are also identified. Finally, considerations are provided on how to improve some of these aspects, such as the possibility of advancing towards a greater alignment between DESI itself and the European Framework for Digital Competence for Citizens, which serves as a conceptual model.