Digital Economy and Sustainable Economic Development: A Synergistic Perspective Based on Innovation

This study leverages provincial panel data from China covering the period 2013 to 2021, employs big data technology for data processing, and applies the Spatial Durbin Model to examine the independent and synergetic effects of the digital economy and innovation on sustainable economic development. The empirical results reveal that: First, the digital economy significantly promotes sustainable economic development and generates a positive spatial spillover effect. Second, although innovation has emerged as a new driving force for sustainable economic development, positively impacting both the focal province and neighboring provinces, its effect is less pronounced relative to that of the digital economy. Third, the synergetic effect of the digital economy and innovation yields a stronger promoting influence and spatial spillover effect on sustainable economic development, highlighting that coordinated development between these two factors is crucial for achieving comprehensive progress in sustainable economic development.