Coupling Coordinated Development among Digital Economy, Regional Innovation and Talent Employment A case study of Hangzhou Metropolitan Circle, China

Coordination development across various subsystems, particularly economic, social, cultural, and human resources subsystems, is a key aspect of urban sustainability that has a direct impact on the quality of urbanization. Hangzhou Metropolitan Circle composing Hangzhou, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, was the first metropolitan circle approved by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) as a demonstration of economic transformation. To evaluate the coupling degree of the four cities and to analyze the coordinative development in the three systems (Digital Economy System, Regional Innovation System, and Talent Employment System), panel data of these four cities during the period 2015-2022 were collected. The development level of these three systems were evaluated using standard deviation and comprehensive development index evaluation. The results are as follows: (1) the coupling coordination degree of the four cities in Hangzhou Metropolitan Circle has significant regional differences, with Hangzhou being a leader while Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing have shown steady but slow progress in the coupling development of the three systems; and (2) the development of digital economy and talent employment are the breakthrough points for construction in Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing. Related suggestions are made based on the coupling coordination results of the Hangzhou Metropolitan Circle.