Examining Digital Economy's Role in Urban Green Development: A Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region

This study investigates the relationship between the digital economy and urban green development efficiency (GDE) in China's Yangtze River Delta Region. Using panel data from 41 cities from 2011 to 2020, we measure the digital economy index (DEI) and GDE with the entropy method and super-efficiency slacks-based measure model, respectively. The results reveal a positive upward trend in both DEI and GDE, indicating that the digital economy contributes significantly to promoting urban GDE. The study finds that industrial structure upgrading positively moderates the relationship between DEI and GDE. Furthermore, the impact of the digital economy on GDE exhibits a gradient-increasing pattern. Digital dividends play a more significant role in cities with higher population and human capital. These findings offer valuable insights into green development determinants and mechanisms, supporting sustainable urban development and environmental goals. Future research could consider exploring similar relationships in other regions and strategies to maximize digital dividends for sustainable development.