Research on the Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Impact of China’s Digital Economy and Green Innovation

Chunshan Zhou (), Xiaoli Wei, Xiangjun Dai and Guojun Zhang
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Chunshan Zhou: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Xiaoli Wei: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Xiangjun Dai: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guojun Zhang: School of Finance, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: It is of great significance to study the impact of China’s digital economy on green innovation under present conditions. In this work, panel data were used, and research tools such as the entropy method, the Markov chain with a spatial Markov probability transition matrix, and a spatial Durbin model were applied to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of the digital economy and green innovation in 287 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021, exploring the influence of the digital economy on green innovation. The results show that the digital economy and green innovation in Chinese cities exhibited an upward trend. There was a basic spatial pattern consisting of “high levels in the east and low levels in the west” regarding the digital economy and green innovation, with the aggregation types primarily being “HH” and “LH”. Moreover, the types of digital economy and green innovation in Chinese cities are relatively stable, with neighboring areas influencing local changes. The digital economy has a significant promotional effect on green innovation, as well as spatial spillover effects; the differing influences over time can be used to categorize the cities into four groups, with most falling within the first two categories. Based on these findings, relevant countermeasures are proposed, seeking to further enhance the role of the digital economy in promoting green innovation. This work provides a research basis and policy suggestions to contribute to continuous improvements in China’s digital economy and green innovation, leveraging the promotional effects of the former on the latter.

Keywords: digital economy; green innovation; spatiotemporal evolution; spatial spillover effects; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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