[Analysis of Digital-real Economy Integration Driving Green and Low-carbon Transition in Resource-Based Cities].

Abstract

As pivotal pillars of China's national energy security strategy, resource-based cities can leverage the data-sharing capabilities, real-time transmission features, and low marginal cost advantages inherent in digital-real integration to forge new pathways for overcoming the "resource curse" and "transition inertia" dilemmas. Based on panel data of China's resource-based cities from 2011 to 2022, this study constructs a multidimensional econometric framework incorporating two-way fixed effects models, mediation and moderation effect models, and threshold regression analysis to systematically deconstruct the operational impacts and mechanistic drivers of digital-real integration in propelling green and low-carbon urban transitions. The results showed that: ① Digital-real integration demonstrated statistically significant positive effects on green low-carbon transition in resource-based cities, with robustness confirmed through multiple empirical tests. ② Mechanism tests revealed that digital-real integration significantly facilitated green and low-carbon transition in resource-based cities through innovation-driven effects and environmental regulation effects, whereas industrial optimization effects demonstrated no significant driving force. Concurrently, government intervention exhibited a negative moderating effect on this transition process driven by digital-real integration. ③ Heterogeneity tests revealed significant differential effects across three dimensions: typology of resource-based cities, economic development levels, and digital technology innovation capacities. ④ Threshold effect tests confirmed that higher digital economy policy supply levels intensified the green and low-carbon transition effects of digital-real integration.