Mapping knowledge dissemination trajectories in the digital economy: a main path analysis approach

As the digital economy evolves under the influence of technological progress and globalization, the growing volume of research highlights the need to systematically trace the patterns of knowledge diffusion in this domain. This study aims to investigate and summarize the current status and potential future trends in the field of digital economy using quantitative methodologies. This paper employs 10,032 papers retrieved from the WoS database to present a main path analysis (MPA) on the entire domain of the digital economy and its three subdomains (Public Administration, Engineering, and Business Economics). The analysis, both horizontally and vertically, comprehensively reveals the knowledge dissemination trajectories in the digital economy, highlighting key focal points: 1) Theoretical foundations of the digital economy. 2) Research studies of the relationship between emerging economies and the digital economy. 3) The digital economy in the context of Industry 4.0. 4) Prospects in the digital economy. Additionally, the study proposes three directions for the future advancement of the digital economy. To conclude, this paper underscores the necessity to investigate how knowledge evolves in the digital economy domain, presenting a nuanced understanding of its past, current, and forthcoming developments, thereby aiding scholars in their exploration of the digital economy’s developmental landscape.