International comparison and influencing factors of the convergent development level of the digital and energy industries

Amid rising global energy demand and mounting pressures from carbon emissions, assessing the extent of which digital and energy systems converge unevenly across countries is critical for securing energy supplies and accelerating low-carbon transitions. This study provides internationally comparable, country-level evidence on the convergence of the digital and energy industries, extending the literature beyond its traditional focus on individual countries or specific sectors. We constructed an indicator system for digital-energy industry convergence across four dimensions: foundation, conditions, intensity, and performance. The entropy weight TOPSIS method was applied to panel data from 45 countries between 2000 and 2020. The Dagum-Gini coefficient method and spatial econometric models were used to analyze the spatiotemporal differences and influencing factors of this convergence. According to the results, countries have varying strengths and weaknesses across dimensions. Trade openness, industrial structure, and digital industry development are key convergence drivers, exerting significant positive spatial effects.