Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities
Abstract Technological advancements have become a crucial driver of economic growth, particularly in the digital economy, where they have significantly spurred innovation and entrepreneurship across various sectors. This progress has also led to the rise of smart cities, which serve as practical con...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98014-y |
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| author | Yongliang Zhang Yanchao Su Shali Wang |
| author_facet | Yongliang Zhang Yanchao Su Shali Wang |
| author_sort | Yongliang Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Technological advancements have become a crucial driver of economic growth, particularly in the digital economy, where they have significantly spurred innovation and entrepreneurship across various sectors. This progress has also led to the rise of smart cities, which serve as practical contexts for implementing the digital economy. By integrating technological advancements and the digital economy, smart cities have further unlocked their potential through the development of digital and intelligent infrastructure. However, research on the impact of the digital economy on urban entrepreneurial activity remains limited, especially regarding its underlying mechanisms. To address this gap, this study constructs a panel dataset covering 284 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2021 and employs Difference-in-Differences (DID) and Propensity Score Matching-Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) models. The findings indicate that the digital economy has a significantly positive impact on urban entrepreneurial activity, particularly in northern and less developed cities, as well as in the information transmission, software, and information technology service industries. Mechanism analysis reveals that this impact is mediated through the optimization of the urban business environment and enhanced social credit levels. Additionally, the study identifies heterogeneous effects across different regions, levels of urban development, and industries. The study concludes that technological progress, the digital economy, and smart cities have a synergistic effect, driving high-quality economic development. Technological progress supports the digital economy, which in turn provides the foundation for smart city construction. Based on these findings, the paper recommends advancing the digital economy, optimizing the business environment, improving the social credit system, and formulating targeted policies to promote coordinated development between the digital economy and entrepreneurial activities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-acff6ee338b2441baee429671679b4d9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-acff6ee338b2441baee429671679b4d92025-08-20T03:13:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115113210.1038/s41598-025-98014-yDigital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart citiesYongliang Zhang0Yanchao Su1Shali Wang2School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-BeijingSchool of Management, China University of Mining and Technology-BeijingSchool of Economics and Management, Guizhou University of Engineering ScienceAbstract Technological advancements have become a crucial driver of economic growth, particularly in the digital economy, where they have significantly spurred innovation and entrepreneurship across various sectors. This progress has also led to the rise of smart cities, which serve as practical contexts for implementing the digital economy. By integrating technological advancements and the digital economy, smart cities have further unlocked their potential through the development of digital and intelligent infrastructure. However, research on the impact of the digital economy on urban entrepreneurial activity remains limited, especially regarding its underlying mechanisms. To address this gap, this study constructs a panel dataset covering 284 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2021 and employs Difference-in-Differences (DID) and Propensity Score Matching-Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) models. The findings indicate that the digital economy has a significantly positive impact on urban entrepreneurial activity, particularly in northern and less developed cities, as well as in the information transmission, software, and information technology service industries. Mechanism analysis reveals that this impact is mediated through the optimization of the urban business environment and enhanced social credit levels. Additionally, the study identifies heterogeneous effects across different regions, levels of urban development, and industries. The study concludes that technological progress, the digital economy, and smart cities have a synergistic effect, driving high-quality economic development. Technological progress supports the digital economy, which in turn provides the foundation for smart city construction. Based on these findings, the paper recommends advancing the digital economy, optimizing the business environment, improving the social credit system, and formulating targeted policies to promote coordinated development between the digital economy and entrepreneurial activities.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98014-yGlobal digital economyUrban entrepreneurial activityTechnological advancementsBusiness environment optimizationSocial credit systemDifference-in-differences model |
| spellingShingle | Yongliang Zhang Yanchao Su Shali Wang Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities Scientific Reports Global digital economy Urban entrepreneurial activity Technological advancements Business environment optimization Social credit system Difference-in-differences model |
| title | Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| title_full | Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| title_fullStr | Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| title_short | Digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality: unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| title_sort | digital economy and entrepreneurial vitality unveiling the impact and mechanisms through the lens of smart cities |
| topic | Global digital economy Urban entrepreneurial activity Technological advancements Business environment optimization Social credit system Difference-in-differences model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98014-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yongliangzhang digitaleconomyandentrepreneurialvitalityunveilingtheimpactandmechanismsthroughthelensofsmartcities AT yanchaosu digitaleconomyandentrepreneurialvitalityunveilingtheimpactandmechanismsthroughthelensofsmartcities AT shaliwang digitaleconomyandentrepreneurialvitalityunveilingtheimpactandmechanismsthroughthelensofsmartcities |