Theoretical Mechanism and Empirical Verification of Digital Economy Empowering the Construction of Modern Circulation System——Evidence from 287 prefecture level cities
In the context of accelerating the formation of a new development pattern,leveraging the digital economy to enhance the construction of a high-standard modern circulation system and better support the domestic economic cycle has be-come a key issue for exploration in the current era.This paper uses data from 287 cities between 2004 and 2021 to investigate both the direct and indirect empowering effects of the digital economy on the development of the modern circulation system.The empirical results indicate that the digital economy significantly enhances the level of modern circulation system construc-tion.This positive impact is primarily driven by internal mechanisms,including cost reduction and efficiency improvements,the stimulation of inclusive innovation,the strengthening of functional roles,and the acceleration of quality improvements.The influence of the digital economy on modern circulation system development is subject to heterogeneous conditions.Specifically,the enabling effect is strongest in the central region,relatively weaker in the eastern and western regions,and weakest in the northeastern region.Additionally,non-core cities experience a stronger enabling effect than core cities.The digital economy fa-cilitates the construction of modern circulation systems through mechanisms such as creating innovative development spaces,stimulating entrepreneurial dynamism in the circulation industry,and enhancing financial support.Consequently,there is a need to increase investment in digital infrastructure,promote the deep integration of digital technology with the circulation sys-tem,tailor efforts to local conditions,and foster a favorable enabling environment for the digital economy to empower the mod-ern circulation system.
digital economymodern circulation systemnew development pattern