Synergistic Effect between China’s Digital Transformation and Economic Development: A Study Based on Sustainable Development

Abstract

Developing rapidly over the long term makes it easy for a developing country to fall into the middle-income trap, which can only be solved by a new technological revolution. The deep integration of digital technology and industry has gradually become a new impetus to promote the sustainable development of China’s economy. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities from 2010 to 2019, this paper analyzes the coupling coordination relationship between digital transformation level and economic development in China by the entropy method, coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation model. The results show that the following: (1) from 2010 to 2019, the comprehensive index of China’s digital transformation and economic growth level showed an upward trend, and the development level showed a gradual decline in eastern–middle–western regions; (2) the level of coupling and coordination between China’s digital transformation and economic growth has been increasing each year. Except Guangdong Province, all provinces have shown digital lag coordinated development, and it is necessary to strengthen their economic sustainability; (3) the coupling and coordination degree of digital transformation and economic growth in China shows a remarkable spatial correlation and agglomeration. High–high agglomeration areas are mainly concentrated in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and Yangtze River Delta regions, low–low agglomeration areas are concentrated in northeast and western regions, and low–high agglomeration areas and high–low agglomeration areas are concentrated in southeast provinces. It is suggested that China should strengthen its regional balance in the future, let digital technology continue to lead the development of eastern developed regions, and transform and promote the traditional economy in other regions, overtaking in corners and enhancing the sustainable development of the overall layout of China’s economy.