Theoretical and Methodological Principles of State Regulation of the Digitalization of Consumer Market Infrastructure in the Context of Sustainable Development

The increasing complexity of consumer markets under the influence of digital transformation necessitates a reevaluation of the theoretical and methodological foundations of state regulation. As economies enter an era marked by platformization, datafication, and the virtualization of infrastructure, the conventional paradigms of public policy and governance prove insufficient to address the rapidly evolving digital environment. Against this backdrop, the regulation of consumer market infrastructure–understood as the sum of digital, informational, communicative, and logistical systems–becomes an urgent priority in the pursuit of economic resilience, social inclusion, and sustainable development. This paper undertakes a conceptual inquiry into the nature and role of digital infrastructure as a functional core of modern consumer economies. It elaborates the relationship between digitalization, infrastructural transformation, and sustainable development, advancing the proposition that state intervention should evolve from reactive mechanisms to proactive, mission-oriented strategies that account for both technological dynamics and normative imperatives. Digital infrastructure is no longer a neutral backdrop for economic exchange; it has become a value-laden field where regulatory decisions shape accessibility, equity, and long-term development trajectories. The research integrates theoretical traditions from classical public economics, institutional theory, behavioral policy, and innovation systems to conceptualize the forms and limits of regulatory influence in a digitized market environment. Within this framework, the state is not solely a controller but an orchestrator and enabler of cooperative innovation. The transition from hierarchical to platform-based and networked governance models is examined as a critical factor in achieving sustainability goals through digital means. Further, the work delineates the logic of regulatory engagement across multiple levels–normative, institutional, technological, and operational–highlighting the need for adaptive, transparent, and inclusive policy architectures. It emphasizes the role of ethical considerations, data stewardship, interoperability, and participatory governance in building resilient digital infrastructures. The proposed approach envisions regulatory ecosystems that foster digital equity, minimize algorithmic bias, ensure open access to digital public goods, and reinforce citizen trust in state-regulated digital environments. This study contributes to the deepening of methodological approaches in digital governance by outlining a coherent framework that links sustainability objectives with regulatory rationality in the digital age. By repositioning the role of the state in infrastructure governance and embracing the complexity of digital systems, it offers strategic directions for countries in economic transition, where regulatory gaps remain profound and the risks of digital exclusion are intensifying. The findings support a paradigmatic shift toward valueconscious, innovation-driven, and institutionally grounded digital regulation capable of reconciling growth with equity, resilience with openness, and efficiency with accountability.