How to efficiently enhance sustainable development through the digital economy? Evidence from 60 countries

The digital economy (DIE) offers enterprises and workers an adaptive, networked and collaborative environment that can help alleviate the pressure for governments to balance economic development and environmental governance. In this study, we calculated the sustainable production efficiency (SPE) of 60 countries from a new perspective and analyzed the mechanism of the DIE on the SPE. Our results were as follows: (1) the SPE of each country was increasing, and the sustainable technology gap of developed countries was the largest. Our analysis indicated that most regions need to improve efficiency at the technical and management levels. (2) The DIE significantly promoted the SPE, and the effect increased linearly with the DIE. (3) The positive effects of the DIE on the SPE were mainly from upgrading of industrial structure and reducing energy intensity. (4) The positive effects in developing and landlocked countries were greater than those in developed and coastal countries. The positive effects in Asia, Oceania, and the Americas were more significant than those in other continents.