Digital Economy Research Articles

Synergistic governance efficiency of industrial pollution and CO2 emissions under the digital economy.

Using panel data for 284 Chinese cities, this study explores the nonlinear relationship between the digital economy and the synergistic governance efficiency of industrial pollution and CO2 emissions (SGEIPCE). The study also investigates the transmission mechanism of two-way knowledge flows within this relationship using the double fixed effect model and two-stage least square method. The results show that the digital economy has a significant U-shaped relationship on the SGEIPCE: the impact first decreases and then increases. When the level of digital economy exceeds infection point, the SGEIPCE increases. The marginal effect identified through the heterogeneity analysis indicates that Chinese cities with high innovative talent agglomeration and low industrial Internet level are the first to cross the inflection point of the U-shaped relationship, and the promoting effect of the digital economy on the SGEIPCE is greater in these two types of cites. Further, when the digital economy crosses the inflection point, it indirectly improves the SGEIPCE by increasing the level of knowledge absorption and knowledge overflow. Knowledge overflow is the most critical transmission mechanism by which China's digital economy affects SGEIPCE. These results provide empirical support and a decision-making basis for promoting the mutually beneficial cooperation between digital economy and industrial synergistic governance.

The role of the digital economy in promoting energy justice: Evidence from procedural justice and restorative justice

The role of the digital economy in promoting energy justice: Evidence from procedural justice and restorative justice

Analysis of IoT Applications in Highly Precise Agriculture Farming

Background: The IoT (Internet of Things) assigns to the capacity of Device-to-Machine (D2M) connections, which is a vital component in the development of the digital economy. IoT integration with a human being enables real-time decision-making in communication, collaboration, and technology analytics. Furthermore, environmental factors impacting plants, such as air humidity, temperature, air quality index, and soil wetness, are not frequently documented, emphasizing the development of a data monitoring system for future agricultural research and development. Methods: An IoT-based Intelligent Farming System is proposed. An innovative IoT-based intelligent farming system is developed that integrates real-time data monitoring, machine learning algorithms, and IoT technology to address the identified gaps and challenges. Result: In the face of climate change, extreme weather, and environmental constraints, increased food demand must be satisfied. Intelligent agriculture enabled by IoT technology can reduce waste and increase productivity for producers and farmers, from fertilizer use to tractor trips. Conclusion: In conclusion, this paper provides insightful and informative commentary on the progress made in technology within the agriculture industry and the challenges that still need to be overcome to achieve optimal outcomes.

AI-Related Disciplines: A Comparative Analysis of Regional Trade Agreements and National Regulatory Approaches

The global digital economy is witnessing the transformative impact of Artificial intelligence (AI), prompting nations to engage in AI-driven trade agreements. Under the digital trade context, these agreements aim to promote and regulate AI technologies, facilitate international AI cooperation, and touch upon data-related disciplines crucial for AI. This article delves into analysing the emerging trend in specific AI disciplines and other AI-related fields, including data provisions in regional trade agreements (RTAs). It also maps out the current landscape of AI regulatory approaches in the United States (US), the European Union (EU), China, and Singapore to analyse how these diverse domestic regulatory approaches may impact regional AI rulemaking. Findings reveal that RTAs emphasize on AI recognition, AI frameworks, and AI cooperation, albeit in a flexible and soft manner. Besides, while the US’s market-driven approach could spearhead rulemaking in AI, its recent policy shifts cast doubt on its comprehensive participation in RTAs. The EU is at the forefront of domestic AI legislation, and seeks to mirror the risk and security-based value at the regional level. China, driven by its massive market potential and concerns about data security, relies on a hybrid approach that explores regulatory strategies alongside AI development. Singapore is notable for taking proactive steps in addressing AI governance through RTAs, which demonstrates a unique form of Asian regionalism. Despite the fragmented approaches among major economies, this article emphasizes on the role of RTAs in addressing trade-related AI issues and puts forward recommendations for AIspecific rulemaking in RTAs.

China’s green digital era: How does digital economy enable green economic growth?

China’s green digital era: How does digital economy enable green economic growth?

Alleviating the rural household energy poverty in China: The role of digital economy

Alleviating the rural household energy poverty in China: The role of digital economy

The Impact of Digital Platforms on Taxation in Uganda: Challenges and Opportunities for the Uganda Revenue Authority

This paper examines the impact of digital platforms on taxation in Uganda, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in adapting to the digital economy. The rapid growth of digital platforms, including e-commerce, mobile money, and online freelancing, has created significant gaps in Uganda’s traditional tax system, making it difficult for the URA to effectively track and tax digital transactions, particularly those that are cross-border or informal. The discussion highlights key challenges such as limited technological capacity, data privacy concerns, and regulatory gaps in taxing digital services. Alongside these challenges, the paper identifies opportunities for Uganda to modernize its tax administration system by leveraging digital tools, data analytics, and global best practices to improve compliance and capture revenue from the growing digital sector. The paper’s findings aim to provide policymakers and stakeholders with practical insights into how Uganda can navigate the complexities of digital taxation and capitalize on the growth of its digital economy.

The relationship between the digital economy and economic growth in Egypt: in a post-COVID-19 world

The relationship between the digital economy and economic growth in Egypt: in a post-COVID-19 world

Does digital innovation improve carbon productivity? A new perspective based on industrial upgrading

ABSTRACT In the era of digital economy, digital innovation is an important path to promote the improvement of carbon productivity in developing countries. Based on China’s experience, this paper systematically constructs a digital innovation measurement system, and takes the heterogeneity threshold of industrial transformation upgrading as an entry point, and adopts a non-linear dynamic panel measurement model to empirically explore the mechanism of industrial transformation upgrading threshold of digital innovation on regional carbon productivity. The results show that the current development level of China’s digital innovation is relatively low, with significant regional heterogeneity. In particular, the impact of digital innovation on regional carbon productivity is subject to the heterogeneous threshold effect of industrial transformation upgrading: the low degree of industrial transformation upgrading hinders the role of digital innovation in improving carbon productivity to some extent, and with the further improvement of industrial transformation upgrading, the enabling effect of digital innovation can be effectively brought into play to improve carbon productivity. That is, digital innovation and regional carbon productivity present ‘U-shaped’ relationship. This paper has clarified the differential‘new phenomena’ in the process of promoting carbon productivity, providing new insights for achieving ‘carbon reduction and economic promotion’ in developing countries.

The Politics of Platform Technologies: A Critical Conceptualization of the Platform and Sharing Economy

This paper offers a political analysis of the platform and sharing economy—an economic model in which digital platforms facilitate social and economic interactions. Its two central models, mainstream and cooperative platforms, offer similar applications and services (e.g., home-sharing, food delivery), but fundamentally differ in their ownership and governance structures, economic models, and technical designs. Building on literature from the politics of technology (PoT), the paper develops an approach for the political analysis of platform technologies, combining central components from the works of Winner, Feenberg, and Pfaffenberger. This approach is then applied to analyze the platform and sharing economy, highlighting the political significance of platform technologies. The analysis reveals three key insights. First, when incorporated into particular social arrangements, digital platforms become means for shaping social realities rather than mere tools for specific uses. Second, mainstream platforms perpetuate capitalist conditions in the digital sphere and therefore necessitate platform capitalism to function, whereas cooperative platforms resist and undermine it. Third, the dynamics between the platform models embody a struggle over the question of the good life in the digital economy. Additionally, the paper uncovers a philosophical weakness in Winner’s definition of “inherently political technologies” that warrants further attention in PoT literature.

Does the Digital Economy Promote Renewable Energy?—Evidence From a Cross‐National Sample

Does the Digital Economy Promote Renewable Energy?—Evidence From a Cross‐National Sample

Inventorying data: circumvented investment conditions by Big Tech’s supply chain capitalism

ABSTRACT The capital success of multinational tech companies is usually understood to be a result of innovative business models that offer free user access to digital services in return for data. This article shows that besides platformization, the political, economic, and cultural embedding of multinational tech companies depends on the specific ways in which datacenters are established locally. Our ethnographic study of a hyperscale datacenter demonstrates that major local capital investment made it possible for Meta to establish itself as a data producing company in Denmark. Investment conditioned on local political trust in industrial integrity is a process that makes the datacenter a site where data can become a product and thus capital value in the Big Tech supply chain. We theorize this process as inventorying. Implications of the analysis are twofold: First, the concept of inventorying extends the understanding of how data become valuable beyond platformization as it highlights the social, cultural, and political context that continues to enable monopolization of the digital economy. Second, it shows how even a heavily regulated welfare state has few mechanisms to hold big tech companies accountable in terms of their promises of democratic, sustainable, and welfare-political engagements.

Research on the impact of the digital economy on carbon emissions based on the dual perspectives of carbon emission reduction and carbon efficiency

China’s digital economy is currently thriving, with the “dual carbon” targets representing a significant pursuit of economic development. The role of the digital economy in achieving these targets warrants detailed discussion. Using urban panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2021, this paper empirically examines the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions. The findings reveal several key points: Firstly, the digital economy significantly reduces urban carbon emissions and enhances efficiency, a conclusion that remains valid after a series of robustness checks. Secondly, there is a notable structural effect, with different dimensions of the digital economy exhibiting varying impacts on urban emission reduction and efficiency enhancement. Thirdly, green economic efficiency and green technological innovation are crucial mechanisms through which the digital economy facilitates urban carbon emission reduction and efficiency improvement, operating through green development and innovation channels. Fourthly, industrial structure upgrading is a key nonlinear factor reducing the digital economy’s impact on carbon reduction, while the digital economy’s effect on urban carbon efficiency shows a U-shaped pattern. Lastly, the impact of the digital economy on urban carbon emissions displays significant heterogeneity across cities of different locations, tiers, and characteristics.

The Impact of Digital Entrepreneurial Competencies, Digital Literacy and Government Support on Digital Entrepreneurship Using Regression Analysis

Abstract Digital entrepreneurship in rural Malaysia is limited, with small businesses struggling to use digital tools and develop entrepreneurial skills. This study explores the impact of digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, and government support on small businesses, areas that have not been fully studied. It also looks at the role of youth in Terengganu in promoting digital entrepreneurship, in line with Malaysia’s National Entrepreneurship Policy. The study found that digital literacy and entrepreneurial competencies explain 37.3% of digital entrepreneurship, with government support and interaction effects increasing this effect by an additional 5%. Digital literacy and entrepreneurial competencies significantly impact digital entrepreneurship, with entrepreneurial competencies having a stronger influence. Government support does not impact digital entrepreneurship, but combining digital literacy with government support does. In rural areas, limited resources and knowledge may reduce the effectiveness of government aid. The government should prioritize training programs, like workshops and mentorships, to improve digital skills and business capabilities, in collaboration with academic institutions. This strategy would assist business owners in acquiring the useful abilities required for success in the digital economy. It highlights the importance of continuous learning and offers key insights for educators and policymakers to foster skills.

An extension of Trust and TAM model with TPB in the adoption of digital payment: An empirical study in Vietnam

Background Digital payment systems are pivotal in the digital economy, relying on the interplay between internet technology and e-vendors. This study seeks to explore acceptance behaviors regarding digital payments by employing an extended version of the Trust and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and incorporating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods We conducted a qualitative analysis using interview data from 509 respondents and applied Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to evaluate the relationships between key variables. The extended model allows for a comprehensive examination of both technological and trust-related factors influencing adoption. Results Our analysis revealed that all standardized path coefficients were positively significant, except for the path from perceived usefulness (PU) to attitude (ATT). The findings confirm that while digital payments are primarily driven by Internet and communication technologies, addressing trust-related issues is essential for enhancing user adoption. The TAM identifies perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, alongside trust, as critical factors affecting behavioral intention. In the TPB framework, trust significantly impacts digital payment adoption through mediators such as attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm. Conclusions This study enhances our understanding of the factors influencing digital payment adoption, emphasizing the need to address both technological and trust issues. The insights gained provide valuable recommendations for increasing the use of digital payment systems, particularly in the Northern mountainous regions of Vietnam, thereby fostering greater financial inclusion and economic growth.

Immersion Phase-Change Liquid Cooling Devices Based on Copper Microgroove/Nanocone Composite Structure.

Along with the rapid development of the digital economy and artificial intelligence, heat sinks available for immersion phase-change liquid cooling (IPCLC) of chips are facing huge challenges. Here, we design a high-performance IPCLC heat sink based on a copper microgroove/nanocone (MGNC) composite structure. Maximal heat fluxes (qmax) of the MGNC structure, microgroove structure, and flat copper reach 112.7, 88.0, and 24.0 W·cm-2 as the surface temperature (TS) of the simulated chip heat source rises up to 85 °C, respectively. As compared to the flat copper, the nanocone structure shows much higher cooling efficacy but lower cooling capacity, with qmax = 19.8 W·cm-2 at TS = 69.8 °C. Structure-performance relationships are rationalized by combined experiments and theoretical analyses. This work not only helps deeply understand the respective roles of microscale and/or nanoscale structures in IPCLC but also provides the state-of-the-art solution with the best IPCLC performance as compared to all peers' reports.

Understanding and evaluating new quality productive forces in China: based on machine learning

ABSTRACT New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF) is a concept introduced by the Chinese government in November 2023 that has garnered significant interest among scholars. However, a convincing method for quantifying this indicator has yet to be established. This paper first explains the meaning of NQPF and the context in which it was introduced. Then, we define NQPF as the additional increase in green total factor productivity (GTFP) beyond the original growth trajectory. The quantitative method for determining the GTFP growth path employs long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks. Using this approach, we assess the development level of NQPF across China’s first-, second-, and third-level administrative regions from 2010 to 2021. Our findings are intuitive: southeastern coastal regions with advanced digital economies and strong ecological protection have the highest NQPF indices.

The impact of industrial structure upgrading on regional coordination development in the digital era: evidence from China

This paper investigates how industrial structure upgrading influences regional coordination in the digital era, using data from 253 Chinese prefecture-level cities between 2011 and 2021. The research employs a double machine learning model and constructs a Gini coefficient to quantify intracity disparities. Findings indicate that industrial structure upgrading reduces regional disparities overall, with stronger effects during the rapid digital economy development phase. However, in the initial phase of digital infrastructure construction, upgrading intensified disparities due to uneven access to resources and technologies. The analysis also reveals heterogeneity: cities with advanced industrial structures benefit from enhanced coordination, while those with underdeveloped structures face widened disparities. Digitalization moderates these effects by fostering innovation diffusion and improving resource distribution. This paper offers insights into how digitalization and industrial upgrading interact to influence regional coordination, providing a basis for tailored policies to achieve balanced and sustainable urban development.

Exposing the hidden costs of ‘free’: Personal data commodification in the digital economy via X.0 Theory, Fuzzy Delphi, thematic analysis, and problem-solving frameworks

In this article, various techniques such as Fuzzy Delphi, thematic analysis method, and Creative Problem Solving (TRIZ Algorithm) are investigated to model the antecedents and consequences of personal data commodification in the digital economy in the post-truth world, through the X.0 wave/era theory. The article’s findings highlight and reveal the hidden costs of ‘free’ products and services that are offered in exchange for personal data. To address these issues, there is a growing need for increased regulation and transparency in the digital economy, as well as greater awareness among consumers about the value of their personal data and their rights to privacy. The article draws upon the metaphor of ‘free cheese and mousetrap’, which emphasizes how individuals can be lured into providing their personal data, only to be exploited or used for someone else’s benefit. Additionally, this article addresses three topics that have become increasingly relevant in recent years. Firstly, it is crucial to, beware of products that appear to be free—they’re not intended for your benefit, but rather to exploit you as a commodity. Secondly, the article examines the ‘velvet revolution’ that has taken place, which has facilitated the commodification of personal data in the digital economy. Thirdly, the article explores the intersection of hybrid, cognitive, and disinformation warfare with information disorder, which is used to control social and cultural capital.

Understanding the Dynamics of e-WOM in Food Delivery Services: A SmartPLS Analysis of Consumer Acceptance

The evidence on e-commerce rapidly adopting and expanding has led to a high degree of changes in consumer behavior, with food delivery platforms playing a pivotal role in the digital economy. The current study highlights the interplay between consumer perception, consumer acceptance, and electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) assessed in the context of the food delivery chain. By integrating latent variables, such as trust, consumer purchase intentions, perceived usefulness, and psychological distance, the current study explores the role of e-WOM in influencing consumer perception and acceptance within the food delivery services. Data collection and analysis implied a qualitative approach by issuing an online survey and gathering 835 valid responses, further quantitatively assessed through structural equation modelling. The data reveal the validity of the two general hypotheses, according to which consumer acceptance is positively connected to consumer perception, to which the influence of electronic word of mouth was added. The current study stresses the importance for food delivery chains to gain insight and implement strategies based on its electronic peers’ online suggestions and recommendations. The current research actively contributes to the theoretical discourse on food delivery chain management related to the electronic consumers’ experience, in order to competitively position it on electronic markets as well as the food delivery global industry.