The impact of the digital economy on sustainable development: evidence from China

Abstract

This research investigates the intricate interplay among the digital economy, green innovation, and the level of sustainable development. Panel data from 268 cities in China, from 2011 to 2020, are used to comprehensively evaluate the level of digital economy development and investigate the digital economy’s influence on sustainable development. Additionally, a mechanism analysis is used to investigate the contribution of green innovation. The findings suggest that the digital economy significantly stimulates sustainable development, and green innovation serves as a mediating intermediary and moderating effect in facilitating this relationship. Moreover, the robustness check extends the verification of the positive effect of the “Broadband China” policy on sustainable development, strengthening the reliability of the results. The contribution of this study provides management insights on how regions can promote sustainable development in the digital age.

Research on the impact of digital economy on green total factor productivity: theoretical mechanism and multidimensional empirical analysis

“…Heterogeneity analysis.This study analyzes data from Chinese cities, providing new evidence of the contributions of DE to GTFP. These findings align with the research results at various levels within China byLiu et al (2022),An et al (2024),Zhang et al (2022b), and …”

“…Han and Liu (2022) argue that DE effectively promotes green development at the provincial level. Similar conclusions have been reached by scholars using city-level data (Liu et al, 2022;An et al, 2024). It is also emphasized that the TI and industrial structure upgrading serve as pivotal mechanisms through which DE facilitates the promotion of sustainable and environmentally friendly development (Zhang et al, 2022b;Dian et al, 2024;Liu et al, 2024).…”

“…With the widespread application of new technologies, some traditional industries have been upgraded, while emerging sectors such as data analysis, sustainable energy solutions, and digital healthcare have rapidly developed. These emerging industries are reshaping the economic structure and reducing the overall economy's dependence on traditional energy sources (An et al, 2024). Hence, hypothesis 2 is posited:…”

Spatial-Temporal Variations and Driving Factors of the Coupling and Coordination Level of the Digital Economy and Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study of China

“…The use of technology is recognized as crucial for fostering a sustainable digital economy [29]. In regions like China, the digital economy has become a driving force behind green innovation, offering strategies to lower carbon dioxide emissions, promote green economic growth, and transition traditional, polluting, and energy-intensive industries towards environmental sustainability [30]. The implementation of strategies such as "digital villages" has not only increased rural productivity but also implemented the broader Sustainable Development Goals and increasingly promoted sustainable agricultural cultural practices [31].…”