Impact of the digital economy on urban green growth: Empirical evidence from China

Using the digital economy to empower urban economic green growth provides essential opportunities for China to achieve high-quality growth. This paper assesses the level of digital economy and green growth in Chinese cities, seeking to explore the mechanisms and effects of the digital economy on urban green growth in a unified framework. The results indicate that the digital economy can drive cities’ green growth. This conclusion still holds after a set of robustness tests. Meanwhile, the green value of the digital economy is fully released among the eastern cities, major urban agglomerations, and high-level cities. Further research shows that the digital economy can indirectly enhance urban green growth in the neighboring regions through spatial spillover effects. Moreover, labor resource mismatch, capital resource mismatch and green technology innovation are significant mediating mechanisms. The findings could guide policymakers on green growth in emerging economies from a digital economy perspective.