How does the internet affect regional sustainable development? Fresh evidence from China

While the internet can drive economic development, social progress, and environmental improvement, its influence on sustainable regional development remains unclear. The paper constructed a more comprehensive synthesized assessment indicator system for regional sustainable and internet development, respectively. By incorporating internet-relevant elements into the research framework of regional sustainable, we examined the influence of the internet on regional sustainable development and its mechanism of action. Research has found that the internet has had a positive effect on regional sustainable in China. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that internet infrastructure, internet information resources, and the internet construction environment have had a positive effect on regional sustainable in China. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism analysis suggested that the internet can positively contribute to China’s sustainable development by promoting economic growth, industrial upgrading, and financial development. This study provides new ideas for fully understanding the impact of internet development, especially on regional sustainable development, and is a useful reference for policymakers on the internet and regional sustainable development.