Spatio-temporal evolution and drivers of coupling coordination between digital infrastructure and inclusive green growth: Evidence from the Yangtze River economic belt

Abstract

The change of digital technology has ushered in a new era of digital infrastructure (DI) development. Facilitating the synergistic of DI and inclusive green growth (IGG) is essential for achieving sustainable development at the regional level. This study draws on panel data from 107 cities within China's Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and employs a variety of research methodologies, including the entropy method, the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM), exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), the Dagum Gini coefficient, the GM (1.1), and an optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD). The aim is to explore the coupling coordination degree (CCD) and drivers between DI and IGG from 2011 to 2020. The findings reveal: (1) Throughout the study, the CCD within the YREB remained generally low, achieving only low coordination by 2020. However, the system demonstrates greater harmonization and improved quality each year. Spatially, the distribution pattern exhibits a distinct “high in the east and low in the west” trend. (2) The CCD exhibits a positive spatial correlation, particularly with High-High clusters concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). (3) Utilizing difference analysis and gray model predictions, the CCD level of the YREB shows considerable potential for development, with regional disparities gradually narrowing. (4) While the dominant driving factors of CCD vary across different sub-regions of the YREB, information supportability and economic driving force generally emerge as the primary drivers across different spatial sub-regions, with their impact significantly enhanced when interacting with other factors. Consequently, this study accurately identifies the driving factors in different spatial sub-divisions and suggests tailored development strategies and measures to provide more scientifically grounded policy insights.