Urban ecological wealth and digital economy development: Evidence from China

Existing research has emphasized the environmental effects of the digital economy. However, the question of whether ecological wealth can stimulate digital economic growth remains unanswered. Using panel data from Chinese cities spanning 2011–2022, this study empirically examines how urban ecological wealth affects digital economy development. The results reveal that ecological wealth significantly promotes digital economy growth, with stronger effects observed in coastal and highly urbanized cities. Mechanism analysis shows that ecological wealth advances digital economy development by fostering green technology innovation and enhancing human capital. Additional tests indicate a significant negative spatial spillover effect, suggesting that local ecological wealth may inhibit digital economy growth in neighboring areas. These findings offer valuable policy insights for strengthening ecological wealth accumulation and advancing digital economy development.