The impact of China's digital economy development on green total factor productivity

This study utilizes provincial panel data from China, spanning 2013 to 2022, to empirically analyze the impact of the digital economy on green total factor productivity (GTFP) and to investigate the factors driving this relationship. The results demonstrate that the digital economy substantially enhances GTFP via three primary mechanisms: streamlining industrial structure, fostering green technical innovation, and improving energy efficiency. A further regional examination indicates significant disparities in the magnitude of this influence. The digital economy has the most substantial positive effect on GTFP in the central region, followed by the eastern regions, while the western region exhibits relatively weaker effects. These regional disparities are intricately linked to variances in industrial composition, digital infrastructure, and resource accessibility. The report advocates for the establishment of a regional synergy mechanism to enhance coordinated growth by leveraging the distinct capabilities of eastern, central, and western China. The eastern region may enhance its position as a center for technological innovation, the middle region may concentrate on advancing industrial integration, and the western region may prioritize infrastructural enhancement. The implementation of a 'Trinity' digital empowerment framework may accelerate the integration of the digital economy with green development, providing a sustainable impetus for high-quality economic growth.