How should we understand the digital economy in Asia? Critical assessment and research agenda

Highlights • The realization of the digital economy in the Asian nations is due to the need to revamp traditional business processes, extensive technology innovation, supportive government policies for economic growth, and the high capacity for digital entrepreneurship.• Research opportunities may be related to the components of “digital economy and society index” (DESI) scores.• New research directions are prompted by big data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), platform economy, digital trade, fintech innovation, and societal and economic sustainability.• The recent emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world calls for addressing new research directions that could stay after the pandemic has ended.