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The Role of Digital Governance in Fostering County-Level Digital Entrepreneurial Vitality: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of China’s Information Accessibility Pilot

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  • Jingli Zheng

    (College of Economics and Management, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China)

  • Xuanming Zhang

    (College of Economics and Management, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China)

  • Jue Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 401331, China)

Abstract

Digital entrepreneurship, driven by digital technology and the digital economy, is a vital pathway for high-quality economic development. In China, the “National Pilot Policy of Information Accessibility” has been a key initiative to advance digital governance. Using enterprise registration data from 1206 counties during 2010–2020 and employing a difference-in-differences framework, this study evaluates the policy’s impact on county-level digital entrepreneurial vitality. Results show that the pilot significantly stimulates entrepreneurship, with robust evidence from multiple tests including placebo, PSM-DID, and controls for other policies and the pandemic. Mechanism analysis reveals three main channels: enhancing regional innovation capacity, optimizing employment structure, and strengthening infrastructure. Heterogeneity tests indicate stronger effects in western counties with weaker governance and resources, while impacts in eastern regions are less pronounced. These findings highlight the importance of government digital governance in narrowing regional gaps and fostering inclusive digital transformation. The study provides theoretical and empirical insights into how government-led digital initiatives can energize local entrepreneurship, support structural upgrading, and promote high-quality development in the digital era.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingli Zheng & Xuanming Zhang & Jue Wang, 2025. "The Role of Digital Governance in Fostering County-Level Digital Entrepreneurial Vitality: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of China’s Information Accessibility Pilot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-26, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9096-:d:1770932
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    References listed on IDEAS

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