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<p>Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) are central to achieving all 17 United nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using panel data from 278 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021, this study applies the super-efficiency slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model to assess city eco-efficiency (CEE). Leveraging the policy design of China’s national big data comprehensive pilot zones (NBD-CPZs) as a quasi-natural experiment, we construct a multiple-period difference-in-differences (MP-DID) model to empirically examine the impact of the digital economy (DE) on CEE and explore its underlying mechanisms. The results show that the overall trend of CEE shows a fluctuating upward trajectory, marked by spatial agglomeration and regional disparities, with a distribution pattern decreasing from east to west and north to south. While DE significantly enhances CEE, though its spatial spillover effect is notably negative. Mechanism analysis reveals that industrial structure optimization, green technological innovation, and human capital upgrading are key pathways through which DE drives CEE improvements. Further heterogeneity analysis indicates that DE exerts a stronger positive effect on CEE in cities with advanced information infrastructure, resource-based cities, and central cities. This study provides empirical evidence and valuable insights for transition and emerging economies, offering a systematic evaluation of the policy effects of NBD-CPZs in promoting sustainable city development (SCD).</p>

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How the digital economy empowers sustainable city development: evidence from China’s national big data comprehensive pilot zones

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月2日

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  • Yuze Zhang,
  • Chuanyu Xu,
  • Jisong Zhang

摘要

Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) are central to achieving all 17 United nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). Using panel data from 278 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021, this study applies the super-efficiency slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model to assess city eco-efficiency (CEE). Leveraging the policy design of China’s national big data comprehensive pilot zones (NBD-CPZs) as a quasi-natural experiment, we construct a multiple-period difference-in-differences (MP-DID) model to empirically examine the impact of the digital economy (DE) on CEE and explore its underlying mechanisms. The results show that the overall trend of CEE shows a fluctuating upward trajectory, marked by spatial agglomeration and regional disparities, with a distribution pattern decreasing from east to west and north to south. While DE significantly enhances CEE, though its spatial spillover effect is notably negative. Mechanism analysis reveals that industrial structure optimization, green technological innovation, and human capital upgrading are key pathways through which DE drives CEE improvements. Further heterogeneity analysis indicates that DE exerts a stronger positive effect on CEE in cities with advanced information infrastructure, resource-based cities, and central cities. This study provides empirical evidence and valuable insights for transition and emerging economies, offering a systematic evaluation of the policy effects of NBD-CPZs in promoting sustainable city development (SCD).