Global Economic Transformation in the Digital Age and Geopolitical Fragmentation: Review and Policy Implications

Contemporary global economic dynamics are undergoing fundamental transformation due to the complexity of economic interactions between countries, involving not only traditional trade but also financial system integration, technology transfer, and cross-border macroeconomic policy coordination. The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for structural change, exposing the vulnerabilities of the global economic system and forcing a reorientation of the paradigm in international policy coordination. This article aims to comprehensively analyze global economic dynamics with a focus on three main dimensions: the theoretical evolution of international economics from the classical paradigm to the digital era and geopolitical fragmentation, the structural impact of the pandemic on the reorientation of the global economic system, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of international policy coordination mechanisms in addressing multipolar and multikrisis challenges. The research employs a Qualitative Literature Review of over 60 indexed scientific articles from the period 2015–2025. The analysis results indicate that classical international trade theory needs to be adapted to accommodate the phenomena of digitalization and geopolitical fragmentation, the pandemic has created heterogeneity in the economic recovery process with developing countries facing more complex challenges, and geopolitical fragmentation creates a dilemma between economic efficiency and geopolitical resilience