METHODOLOGY FOR ASSESSING COUNTRIES’ READINESS FOR SOCIETY 5.0 TRANSITION: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK AND TOOLBOX

Abstract

Introduction. The Society 5.0 paradigm represents a fundamental shift from a technology-centric digital transformation towards a human-centric integration of advanced technologies with societal well-being and environmental sustainability. However, operationalising this multidimensional concept into measurable indicators for assessing national readiness remains a significant methodological challenge. Existing digital readiness indices predominantly focus on technological infrastructure and economic competitiveness, inadequately capturing the social inclusiveness and ecological sustainability principles central to Society 5.0. Purpose. This article aims to develop a comprehensive methodological framework for constructing the Society 5.0 Readiness Index (S50RI) that operationalises all five conceptual dimensions of this paradigm: digital maturity, human capital development, innovation capacity, social inclusiveness, and sustainability-oriented digitalisation. The study systematically addresses critical methodological decisions regarding indicator selection, data normalisation, weighting schemes, and aggregation methods. Methods. The research employs the OECD-JRC methodological framework for composite indicator construction, integrating theoretical foundations from Sen's capability approach, Rockström's planetary boundaries concept, and Geels' multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions. The methodology encompasses a systematic literature review, comparative analysis of existing digital-readiness indices, multiple imputation for missing data, and comprehensive validation procedures, including statistical robustness checks and sensitivity analyses. Results. The study proposes a hierarchical S50RI structure comprising five dimensions, each operationalised through carefully selected indicators sourced from authoritative international databases. Systematic comparative analysis reveals that min-max normalisation provides optimal interpretability, while an equal weighting scheme ensures transparency and methodological conservatism. The research identifies and systematically addresses five categories of methodological challenges specific to Society 5.0 assessment: conceptual, methodological, empirical, interpretational, and political challenges, with corresponding methodological solutions developed for each category. Conclusion. The proposed methodology advances beyond existing digital readiness indices by systematically integrating technological, social, and ecological dimensions while maintaining methodological rigour in line with OECD standards. The S50RI provides an evidence-based policy tool for diagnosing national preparedness and identifying priority areas for Society 5.0 transformation. Future research should focus on empirical applications in EU countries, expand geographical coverage, and develop dynamic panel approaches to track transformation trajectories over time.