Regional differences and dynamic evolution of sustainable development of platform economy in China

China’s platform economy has expanded rapidly over the past decade, making its sustainable development an important policy concern. This study constructs a Sustainable Development of the Platform Economy (SDPE) index based on six dimensions. Using data from 30 provinces from 2013 to 2022, it evaluates SDPE scores and examines regional differences and dynamic evolution. The results show that SDPE improved steadily in most provinces, although the overall level remained relatively low. The eastern and southern regions performed better, while the northeast, northwest, and southwest lagged behind. Dagum’s Gini coefficient shows that regional disparities are large and mainly driven by inter-regional differences. Kernel density estimation reveals a persistent multi-peak pattern, indicating that regional stratification remains evident despite overall improvement. Moran’s I suggests significant but weakening positive spatial dependence, while the spatial Markov chain reveals strong state stability and path dependence, with limited spillover effects across provinces. Convergence tests show no sigma convergence, whereas absolute and conditional beta convergence exist at the national level and in most regions. This suggests that catch-up effects are present but insufficient to eliminate overall regional disparities. This study provides an integrated evaluation framework and empirical evidence that help clarify the spatial characteristics of SDPE and the factors shaping sustainable platform-driven growth.