Study on the Influence of Digital Economy on Regional Eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

To assess the potential of leveraging digital economy initiatives for regional ecological preservation and high-quality development within the Yangtze River Economic Belt area, we conducted empirical research using panel data spanning the years 2017 to 2021 from 11 provinces and districts in the region. Combined with the benchmark regression model, the study analyzes the impact of digital economy development on the regional eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and conducts a heterogeneity test on this basis. The findings can be summarized as follows: (1) Digital economy development significantly enhances the eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt region. (2) Regional disparities exist in the effectiveness of the digital economy in improving ecological efficiency. This disparity is characterized by an uneven spatial distribution, with the highest impact observed in economically developed provinces and regions, followed by more developed provinces and regions, and the lowest impact observed in less developed provinces and regions.