Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis
The role of digital economy (DE) in improving urban ecological development (UED) has attracted scholarly attention. Additionally, traditional causal inference models encounter several challenges, such as model misspecification and the “curse of dimensionality.” In response to these problems, the dou...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1542363/full |
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| author | Yuchen Jiang Lei Li Yue Xu |
| author_facet | Yuchen Jiang Lei Li Yue Xu |
| author_sort | Yuchen Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The role of digital economy (DE) in improving urban ecological development (UED) has attracted scholarly attention. Additionally, traditional causal inference models encounter several challenges, such as model misspecification and the “curse of dimensionality.” In response to these problems, the double machine learning method is applied to assess the effect of DE on UED. Leveraging data from 282 Chinese cities in 2006–2021, several valuable conclusions emerge. First, DE improves UED and positively contributes to ecological resilience and recovery. Second, promoting green innovation, enhancing environmental efficiency, and optimizing industrial structures are the pathways through which DE contributes to UED. Third, the influence of DE on UED displays heterogeneity. Based on the results, this work proposes relevant recommendations grounded in empirical research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ce54fc3c4994caab3fb3936c77c9dda |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ce54fc3c4994caab3fb3936c77c9dda2025-08-20T02:08:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-04-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15423631542363Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysisYuchen Jiang0Lei Li1Yue Xu2School of Business, Soochow University, Suzhou, ChinaSchool of Business, Applied Technology College of Soochow University, Suzhou, ChinaSchool of Digital Economics and Management, Suzhou City University, Suzhou, ChinaThe role of digital economy (DE) in improving urban ecological development (UED) has attracted scholarly attention. Additionally, traditional causal inference models encounter several challenges, such as model misspecification and the “curse of dimensionality.” In response to these problems, the double machine learning method is applied to assess the effect of DE on UED. Leveraging data from 282 Chinese cities in 2006–2021, several valuable conclusions emerge. First, DE improves UED and positively contributes to ecological resilience and recovery. Second, promoting green innovation, enhancing environmental efficiency, and optimizing industrial structures are the pathways through which DE contributes to UED. Third, the influence of DE on UED displays heterogeneity. Based on the results, this work proposes relevant recommendations grounded in empirical research.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1542363/fulldigital economyurban ecological developmentdouble machine learningcausal mediation modelcausal inference model |
| spellingShingle | Yuchen Jiang Lei Li Yue Xu Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis Frontiers in Environmental Science digital economy urban ecological development double machine learning causal mediation model causal inference model |
| title | Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| title_full | Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| title_fullStr | Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| title_short | Can digital economy improve urban ecological development? evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| title_sort | can digital economy improve urban ecological development evidence based on double machine learning analysis |
| topic | digital economy urban ecological development double machine learning causal mediation model causal inference model |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1542363/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuchenjiang candigitaleconomyimproveurbanecologicaldevelopmentevidencebasedondoublemachinelearninganalysis AT leili candigitaleconomyimproveurbanecologicaldevelopmentevidencebasedondoublemachinelearninganalysis AT yuexu candigitaleconomyimproveurbanecologicaldevelopmentevidencebasedondoublemachinelearninganalysis |