Convergence and Obstacles: Research on Regional of the Digital Economy Level in China

The digital economy (DE) on China's regional economic equilibrium development strategy is evident. This study measures the DE development level in 30 Chinese provinces from 2007 to 2022 and analyzes its spatial-temporal pattern, transition probability, obstacles, and dynamic convergence. The result found that: (1) The level of China's DE development has significant polarisation characteristics, with the eastern part of the country significantly higher than the rest of the country and a multipolar phenomenon; (2) The DE in the northeastern region is experiencing a downward trend; (3) The regional disparity serves as the primary source of spatiotemporal differences in China's DE; (4) The main obstacles to the development of the DE include the primary operating income from the manufacturing of communication equipment, computers, and other electronic devices, revenue from software services, and the number of patent grants; (5) There is significant spatial β-convergence between regions and provinces in China. Building on these findings, this study enriches and enhances the measurement of China's digital economic level and spatial convergence research, offering valuable decision-making insights for China's DE and regional development.