What the study found
The study found that the digital economy is significantly associated with better coordinated development of the rural economy and ecological environment in China. The effect is not uniform: it appears only after rural educational attainment passes a critical threshold, and its marginal contribution becomes smaller as digital development rises.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that their findings help explain how the digital economy may support rural green development by linking economic and environmental goals. They also suggest that strengthening rural education, expanding digital technology use, and improving regional coordination are important for making this effect stronger.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used balanced panel data from 30 Chinese provinces covering 2011 to 2021. They built an index of coupling coordinated development of the rural economy-environment and analyzed the relationship with the digital economy using a two-way fixed-effects model, mediation analysis, panel threshold regression, and a spatial Durbin model.
What worked and what didn't
The digital economy showed a positive average association with coordinated rural economy-environment development. The mechanism analysis suggests this relationship operates mainly through technological innovation and urbanization, and it is strengthened by improvements in human capital structure. The spatial analysis also found spillover effects across regions, with economic-distance spillovers larger than those based on geographic proximity.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe limitations in detail. The findings are based on provincial-level data in China, so the scope is limited to that setting and period.
Key points
- The digital economy is significantly associated with higher coordinated development of the rural economy and ecological environment.
- The positive effect appears only after rural educational attainment exceeds a threshold.
- The marginal contribution of the digital economy declines as digital development increases.
- Technological innovation and urbanization are the main channels identified by the authors.
- Spillover effects across regions are reported, especially along economic distance.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Digital economy linked to better rural economy-environment coordination in China
- Authors:
- Shiou Liao, Chunfang Yang, Yifeng Zhang
- Institutions:
- Baoshan University, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing Forestry University
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-28
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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