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How Digital Transformation Affects Urban Resilience: Empirical Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region

Author

Listed:
  • Huayou Zhu

    (School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321017, China)

  • Manman Qin

    (School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321017, China)

Abstract

The current regional development crisis and opportunities coexist. On the one hand, the economic environment is complex and volatile, with more and more crisis shocks testing the resilience of urban development, while on the other hand, the rapid development of science and technology such as the digital economy has affected all areas of the economy, life, and governance of cities, bringing opportunities for urban development. The use of digital transformation to enhance urban resilience is therefore an obvious and important topic. Based on panel data of 27 cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2011 to 2020, this study empirically analyses the impact of digital transformation on urban resilience by constructing a fixed effects model, a mediated effects model and a spatial Du bin model. The study finds that: (1) In terms of time, the urban resilience and digital transformation capacity of the Yangtze River Delta region are both on the rise; From a spatial point of view, the urban resilience of the Yangtze River Delta region basically shows a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the central cities, and low in the peripheral cities”, while the digital transformation capacity basically shows a pattern of “high in the east-central region, and low in the west”. (2) Digital transformation has a significant positive impact on improving urban resilience; (3) Digital transformation enhances urban resilience through three main paths: technological innovation capacity, new economic sector development momentum, and innovation and entrepreneurship development vitality; (4) Digital transformation has a spatial spillover effect on the urban resilience of neighboring regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Huayou Zhu & Manman Qin, 2023. "How Digital Transformation Affects Urban Resilience: Empirical Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:6221-:d:1115945
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marta Suárez & Erik Gómez-Baggethun & Javier Benayas & Daniella Tilbury, 2016. "Towards an Urban Resilience Index: A Case Study in 50 Spanish Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 81032, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    3. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    4. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 82423, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongyu Ma & Lingli Li, 2024. "The coupling coordination relationship between sports industry agglomeration and economic resilience in the Yangtze River Delta region," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Yanning Si & Lizhi Liang & Wenguang Zhou, 2024. "An Evaluation of Urban Resilience Using Structural Equation Modeling from Practitioners’ Perspective: An Empirical Investigation in Huangshi City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-19, August.

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