The Role of Digital Technologies in Advancing Sustainable Economic Development into Intersections of Policy, Law, Environmental Economics, and a Comparative Study of China, the EU, and the USA

Yizhi Zhang and Muhammad Bilawal Khaskheli ()
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Yizhi Zhang: School of Law, Hainan University, No. 58 People’s Avenue, Haikou 570228, China
Muhammad Bilawal Khaskheli: School of Law, Hainan University, No. 58 People’s Avenue, Haikou 570228, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-25

Abstract: This research delves into the central position of digital technology as a stimulator of sustainable economic advancement. This study examines the complementary convergence of policy structures, law, and environmental economics that unleashes this advancement. This research finds and explores converging strategies in tapping digital innovation towards sustainability goals through benchmarking China, the EU, and the USA. This study bridges a gap in the literature since it undertakes a systematic, cross-disciplinary analysis and offers policymakers valuable inputs to craft effective strategies leveraging technology to a prosperous, sustainable world future. The results prove that new technologies enhance environmental law efficacy, transparency, and enforcement. It provides a prospective framework integrating digital solutions into policy and legal design, connecting economic growth with environmental degradation. Imperial methods in the form of qualitative research grounded on literature review, secondary data, green growth sustainable development, circular economy project studies, and smart conurbations to evaluate the efficacy of digital policy machinery indicate that digitally empowered policies significantly enhance resource productivity, maximise environmental taxation and cap-and-trade instruments, and enhance green innovation. This paper concludes with a policy road map for integrating digital to achieve synergistic economic and environmental objectives, calling for a new paradigm in environmental economic policy and law.

Keywords: digital transformation; economic development; sustainable development; environmental; law; China; EU; USA (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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