IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-04358-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of digital greening synergistic transformation on urban economic resilience in China: Evidence from quasi-natural experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Liangen Zeng

    (Guangxi University)

  • Meiyu Wen

    (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

  • Chengming Li

    (Minzu University of China
    Minzu University of China)

  • Yang Nie

    (Peking University)

  • Saige Wang

    (University of Science & Technology
    Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)

Abstract

Digital greening synergistic transformation (DGST) has emerged as a crucial driver of high-quality economic development, notably enhancing urban economic resilience. This paper examines panel data from 280 Chinese cities (2008–2021) by performing quasi-natural experiments from the ‘Broadband China’ and ‘Low-Carbon Cities’ pilot initiatives and employing a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The main findings are as follows. (1) DGST notably enhances urban economic resilience, showing stronger effects than standalone pilot projects. (2) DGST strengthens economic resilience by enhancing defence, adaptation and learning capacities through labour absorption, industrial structure optimisation and green technology innovation. (3) The effect of DGST on economic resilience is influenced by factors such as human capital, financial resources and infrastructure, with cities possessing greater resources deriving more substantial benefits. (4) Cities that implemented ‘Low-Carbon Cities’ prior to ‘Broadband China’ experienced more pronounced improvements in economic resilience. This paper underscores the synergy between digital and green policies in strengthening economic resilience and provides recommendations to advance DGST and strengthen urban economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Liangen Zeng & Meiyu Wen & Chengming Li & Yang Nie & Saige Wang, 2025. "Impact of digital greening synergistic transformation on urban economic resilience in China: Evidence from quasi-natural experiments," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04358-1
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04358-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04358-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-04358-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gray, Wayne B. & Shadbegian, Ronald J. & Wang, Chunbei & Meral, Merve, 2014. "Do EPA regulations affect labor demand? Evidence from the pulp and paper industry," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 188-202.
    2. Deng, Yue & Jiang, Wanyi & Wang, Zeyu, 2023. "Economic resilience assessment and policy interaction of coal resource oriented cities for the low carbon economy based on AI," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Huo, Weidong & Qi, Jie & Yang, Tong & Liu, Jialu & Liu, Miaomiao & Zhou, Ziqi, 2022. "Effects of China's pilot low-carbon city policy on carbon emission reduction: A quasi-natural experiment based on satellite data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    4. Gary Gereffi, 2020. "What does the COVID-19 pandemic teach us about global value chains? The case of medical supplies," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(3), pages 287-301, September.
    5. Ma, Dan & Zhu, Qing, 2022. "Innovation in emerging economies: Research on the digital economy driving high-quality green development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 801-813.
    6. Wei, Na, 2024. "Green finance, market integration, and regional economic resilience," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    7. Khurana, Indu & Dutta, Dev K. & Singh Ghura, Amarpreet, 2022. "SMEs and digital transformation during a crisis: The emergence of resilience as a second-order dynamic capability in an entrepreneurial ecosystem," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 623-641.
    8. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley & Ben Gardiner & Peter Tyler, 2016. "How Regions React to Recessions: Resilience and the Role of Economic Structure," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(4), pages 561-585, April.
    9. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 2015. "On the notion of regional economic resilience: conceptualization and explanation," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 15(1), pages 1-42.
    10. Yang, Yang & Lin, Zibo & Xu, Zhaoyi & Liu, Shuwen, 2024. "The impact of digital finance on regional economic resilience," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Decai Tang & Ziqian Zhao & Jiannan Li & Valentina Boamah, 2024. "Research on coupling coordination degree of digital finance and economic resilience in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(15), pages 14279-14309, December.
    2. Yuxin Li & Pingyu Zhang & Kevin Lo & Juntao Tan & Qifeng Yang, 2022. "Borderland Economic Resilience under COVID-19: Evidence from China–Russia Border Regions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Junzhou Yu & Wenzheng Hu & Ting Deng, 2024. "Towards more resilient economy—analyzing the impact of new-type urbanization on urban economic resilience: mechanisms and spatial spillover boundaries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 1-41, October.
    4. Du, Yanan & Wang, Qingxi & Zhou, Jianping, 2023. "How does digital inclusive finance affect economic resilience: Evidence from 285 cities in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Ugo Fratesi & Giovanni Perucca, 2018. "Territorial capital and the resilience of European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 241-264, March.
    6. Kurikka, Heli & Grillitsch, Markus, 2020. "Resilience in the periphery: What an agency perspective can bring to the table," Papers in Innovation Studies 2020/7, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    7. Paolo Rizzi & Paola Graziano & Antonio Dallara, 2018. "A capacity approach to territorial resilience: the case of European regions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 60(2), pages 285-328, March.
    8. Lu Zhang & Guodong Lin & Xiao Lyu & Wenjie Su, 2024. "Suppression or promotion: research on the impact of industrial structure upgrading on urban economic resilience," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Chang-Tai Lee & Jin-Li Hu & Ming-Hsin Kung, 2022. "Economic Resilience in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Across-Economy Comparison," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, April.
    10. Martini, Barbara, 2020. "Resilience and economic structure. Are they related?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 62-91.
    11. Guozhu Li & Meichen Liu, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Economic Resilience: Evidence from Resource-Based Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.
    12. Gjerde, Kathy Paulson & Prescott, Peter & Rice, Jennifer, 2019. "The Impact of State Fiscal Policy on States' Resilience Entering the Great Recession," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 49(01), January.
    13. Mu, Xiuzhen & Zhan, Qilin & Zeng, Xiaohui, 2024. "Can friend-shoring policies improve export resilience? A study based on the Belt and Road initiative," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    14. Xiaojing Li & Jing Chen, 2023. "Global or Local Spatial Spillovers? Industrial Diversity and Economic Resilience in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomeration, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    15. Sensier, Marianne & Devine, Fiona, 2020. "Understanding Regional Economic Performance And Resilience In The Uk: Trends Since The Global Financial Crisis," National Institute Economic Review, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 253, pages 18-28, August.
    16. Linus Holtermann & Christian Hundt, 2018. "Hierarchically structured determinants and phase related patterns of economic resilience. An empirical case study for European regions," Working Papers on Innovation and Space 2018-02, Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography.
    17. Xiaomeng Fang & Weili Liu, 2023. "Exploring Intra-Island Population Mobility and Economic Resilience: The Case of Hainan Island, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-17, December.
    18. Liangang Li & Pingyu Zhang & Chengxin Wang, 2022. "What Affects the Economic Resilience of China’s Yellow River Basin Amid Economic Crisis—From the Perspective of Spatial Heterogeneity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-20, July.
    19. Michele Costa & Flavio Delbono, 2021. "The Italian Geography of Regional Resilience: The Role of Cooperative Firms," Working Papers wp1166, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    20. Pietro Pizzuto, 2020. "The role of regional competitiveness in shaping the heterogeneous impact of the Great Recession," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), pages 267-290, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04358-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.