Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In an era defined by the digital divide, the digital economy has emerged as a pivotal force driving urban-rural modernization. This study analyzes China’s digital economy from 2011 to 2023, evaluating its influence on equitable regional development across 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. We develop an index system to assess the modernization of urban and rural areas, quantify their developmental levels, and elucidate the mechanisms through which the digital economy drives urban-rural modernization. A novel digital economy index is constructed via the entropy weight method, and Moran’s I statistic is employed to detect spatial clustering. To address endogeneity, we apply a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model. While the Spatial Durbin Model captures spatial spillover effects, the results reveal pronounced regional disparities and spatial interdependencies. Digital economic growth generates regional spillovers, promoting modernization, yet simultaneously induces adverse local disruptions—unveiling a critical paradox between diffusion and disruption. Robustness tests substantiate our findings, reinforcing the study’s validity and reliability. Consequently, policy interventions should strategically harness digital dividends while mitigating institutional and distributive challenges. This research contributes novel empirical insights into spatial dynamics within digital transformations, guiding policymakers in economies experiencing similar digital evolution.
Institution: Anhui University of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,890
Funders: Anhui University of Technology, Anhui Provincial Department of Education, Anhui Provincial Quality Engineering Project, Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province, National Social Science Fund of China, Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education of China, Humanities and Social Sciences Youth Foundation, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
Awards: G130571755, G147180044, G1533268127, G2178236178, G2498571399, G2828197802, G3680153096, G4170525453, G4521433577, G5064801648, G5124730968, G5881863886, G5928267474, G6033613743, G6214690877, G6452248039, G7222480389, G7634461853, G7835092141, G7971938814, G8450725483, G8694347259, G8817927669, G8884865448
OpenAlex ID: W7216367316
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