On the impact of provincial digital economy on high-quality economic development in China from a regional heterogeneity perspective

Based on the data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, this paper constructs indicators of the level of development of the digital economy, and explores the impact of the digital economy on the high-quality development of the economy based on the perspective of regional heterogeneity, using static and dynamic panel models. It is concluded that (1) the digital economy promotes high-quality development of the economy, and the eastern part of the country is particularly significant; and (2) the digital economy can promote high-quality development of the economy by promoting the innovation capacity of provinces and cities and reducing their carbon emissions. Finally, we put forward the recommendations of “vigorously developing the digital economy; improving the infrastructure construction and talent training in each region; establishing a regional coordination and linkage mechanism; and improving the development strategy of the digital economy”, so as to promote the high-quality development of the economy.