Study on the coupling relationship between transport infrastructure and digital economy in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze river

The digital economic system, as a rising financial form, has driven common infrastructure towards technological innovation and cross-border integration through digital technological know-how. As a pioneer in China's economic development, transportation infrastructure improvement plays a crucial role in boosting socioeconomic progress. This article examines the coupled and coordinated relationship between transport infrastructure and the digital economy. Using data from the Yangtze River's central and lower reaches from 2011 to 2019, it explores their interaction from a coupling and coordination perspecti ve. The study finds that the coupling effect between transport infrastructure and the digital economic system in these regions improves annually, forming an efficient coupling effect. Individual analysis reveals higher coupling benefits in the downstream region compared to the midstream region. All provinces and cities develop complementary coupling mechanisms, ultimately achieving high coordination between transport infrastructure and the digital economy.