Measurement and Evaluation of the Development Level of China's Digital Economy

This paper aims to measure and evaluate the development level of China's digital economy across 31 provinces from 2015 to 2023, and analyze regional disparities. First, it clarifies the connotation of the digital economy by reviewing relevant studies, which encompasses information and communication technologies, digital applications, and related economic activities. To achieve the research goal, the entropy weight method in STATA is adopted to calculate indicator weights and comprehensive scores. A three-level index system is constructed, covering four primary dimensions: digital economy infrastructure, technological innovation, industrial digital trade and digital industrial trade. The results reveal significant regional differences: eastern provinces (e.g., Beijing, Guangdong) show higher comprehensive scores, followed by central regions (e.g., Chongqing, Sichuan), while western regions (e.g., Ningxia) lag behind, reflecting the "Malthusian effect" and "digital divide". To address these disparities, policy suggestions are proposed, including strengthening digital infrastructure in the west, promoting balanced development in the central region based on local advantages, establishing regional collaborative mechanisms, and enhancing education, digital finance, and technological innovation in underdeveloped areas to foster professional talents and narrow the gap.