Spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries

Abstract

A thorough study of the spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency would be greatly significant for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries to improve low-carbon logistics efficiency and achieve sustainable cooperation. This study constructs a theoretical framework from the perspective of spatial effects on the impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries. The entropy method was used to measure the level of digital economic development. The super-efficiency SBM model was used to measure low-carbon logistics efficiency. Spatial feature analysis was conducted using kernel density estimation and Moran's index, followed by empirical analysis using spatial econometric models to examine the spatial impact of the digital economy on low-carbon logistics efficiency in RCEP countries. The results indicate that in RCEP countries, both low-carbon logistics efficiency and the level of digital economic development exhibit significant spatial positive correlation. Furthermore, the digital economy can promote low-carbon logistics efficiency in economically neighboring countries through spatial spillover effects. The improvement of domestic low-carbon logistics efficiency can also promote low-carbon logistics efficiency in neighboring countries. This conclusion was supported by endogeneity tests and a convergence analysis. Additionally, the mechanism analysis revealed that improving the level of green energy can enhance the spatial spillover effects of the digital economy and promote low-carbon logistics efficiency. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions was proposed to improve the low-carbon logistics efficiency of RCEP countries through the digital economy.