From digital island to resilient networks: the impact of digital economy agglomeration on urban resilience in China

In an increasingly unpredictable era, methods to enhance urban resilience and strengthen cities risk management capabilities have garnered greater academic attention. The unique characteristics of the digital economy can be leveraged to meet these needs. This paper constructs a system for evaluating urban resilience in four areas: economy, society, environment, and resources. Furthermore, statistical data from Chinese cities from 2001 to 2023 is incorporated to investigate the causal relationship, mechanism, and spatial effects between digital economy agglomeration and urban resilience. The results show that digital economy agglomeration significantly promote urban resilience, specifically by facilitating improved urban resilience through increased technological innovation and optimized industrial infrastructure. From a spatial standpoint, digital agglomeration demonstrates a one-period lag “tournament effect.” Early digital economy agglomeration positively influences urban resilience at later points in time. During the same time period, there is also a “backflow effect,” which reveals the immediate reinforcing role of digital agglomeration within specific regions. The results of the heterogeneity analysis suggest that higher levels of government digital engagement coincide with digital economy agglomeration having a more significant impact on urban resilience. Additionally, compared to non-urban agglomeration areas, cities located within urban agglomerations are more significantly positively impacted by digital agglomeration. This study not only offers abundant empirical evidence for understanding the complex relationship between digital economy agglomeration and urban resilience, but also provides valuable scientific bases for constructing resilient cities and mitigating risk in the digital age.