The Impact of the Digital Economy on Industrial Eco-Efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) Urban Agglomeration

Abstract

Enhancing industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) represents an inherent imperative in the pursuit of green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. The burgeoning digital economy (DE) contributes to the digitization and intelligent integration and transformation of production and consumption, which contributes to enhancing economic efficiency and resource utilization efficiency while reducing carbon emissions and the environmental pollution associated with industrial production and providing important support for the ecological transformation of industries. In this context, using data from the YRD urban agglomeration and employing the Tobit model and the spatio-temporal correlation model, this study analyzes the impact of the digital economy on industrial eco-efficiency. The findings are as follows: (1) The correlation over time between IEE and the DE followed an inverted V-shaped trend, while the relationship between the DE and pure technical efficiency (PTE) exhibited a fluctuating W-shaped pattern. The spatial correlation revealed Zhejiang province as the primary concentration of positive correlation between the DE and both IEE and PTE. (2) The development of the DE had a significant positive impact on IEE, not only directly but also indirectly through promoting green technological innovation and advancing industrial structure. (3) The analysis of regional heterogeneity showed that the development of the DE in core cities played a catalytic role in improving IEE, whereas the impact of the DE on IEE was not significant in outer cities. This research not only offers new views on how to develop industry in more environmentally friendly ways, but it also sheds light on the real effects of the digital economy on high-quality urban development.