Leveraging the Digital Economy to Drive Rural Industrial Transformation: A Case Study of County-Level Economies in Southern Shaanxi

With the rapid development of the digital economy, its significant role in promoting rural industrial revitalization has become increasingly evident. County-level economies serve as a critical reflection of regional economic development and provide essential opportunities for rural industrial revitalization. This paper examines the current state of county-level rural industry development in southern Shaanxi and the theoretical basis for the digital economy's role in promoting rural industrial revitalization. Utilizing panel data from 17 counties in southern Shaanxi from 2017 to 2021, we calculated the Digital Economy Development Index and the Comprehensive Index of Rural Industrial Revitalization. Employing Stata software, we conducted an empirical analysis of the impact of the digital economy on rural industrial revitalization and assessed regional heterogeneity effects. The findings reveal a significant positive impact of the digital economy on rural industrial revitalization. However, there are inconsistencies in the levels of digital economy development and rural industrial revitalization across counties in southern Shaanxi, indicating imbalanced and insufficient development with evident regional heterogeneity effects. Therefore, differentiated policy strategies are needed to promote the integrated development of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, enhancing the level of rural industrial revitalization. Additionally, improving rural infrastructure, increasing government investment and support, and advancing the digital economy are crucial. It is also essential to improve the rural digital technology environment, emphasize innovation and digital talent cultivation, and promote collaborative digital village development.