Research Regarding the Impact Mechanism of Digital Economy Development on Economic Resilience—Mediating Effect Based on Upgraded Industries

Yue Fan and Xin Shen ()
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Yue Fan: Department of Economic and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Xin Shen: Department of Economic and Management, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: As the global economic environment becomes more complex and uncertain, economic resilience has become a crucial indicator of an economy’s ability to maintain sustainable development in response to external shocks. The digital economy contributes substantially to economic resilience. Notably, upgrading industrial structure is essential in facilitating this contribution. Therefore, it is necessary to study the impact mechanisms of the digital economy on economic resilience from the perspective of industrial structure upgrading. In this regard, this study employs a two-way fixed-effects model to examine the direct impact mechanisms of the digital economy on economic resilience, utilizing panel data covering 30 Chinese provincial-level regions between the years of 2013 and 2022. The empirical results demonstrate that the digital economy exerts a statistically significant positive impact on economic resilience. The impact shows regional variation, with stronger digital economy effects in the less service-developed mid-western region. Moreover, statistical analysis further identifies digital infrastructure and innovation capabilities as the two most impactful factors contributing to economic resilience enhancement. The digital economy enhances economic resilience through three mediating channels: the synergy effect, income-increasing effect, and allocation effect. Finally, uncovering these contextual factors relevant to the digital economy’s development of economic resilience can significantly benefit future research and practice.

Keywords: digital economy; economic resilience; upgrading industrial structure; sustainable development; influence mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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