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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Coupling Coordination and Regional
Disparities: Analyzing the Interaction between
Digital Economy Development and Ecological
Environment Quality in China (2011-2021)
1
Xinjiang Normal University Faculty of History and Society, Urumchi, 830017, China
2
School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information, Shanghai, 201400, China
Submission date: 2024-07-27
Final revision date: 2024-09-21
Acceptance date: 2024-11-10
Online publication date: 2025-01-20
Publication date: 2026-01-29
Corresponding author
Xilong Liu
School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information, Shanghai, 201400, China
School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information, Shanghai, 201400, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2026;35(1):379-393
KEYWORDS
digital economyecological environment qualitycoupling coordination degreedecoupling indexTheil index
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study quantitatively analyzes the coupling and collaborative relationship between digital
economy development and ecological environment quality across China's provinces from 2011 to
2021. By employing the coupling coordination degree, decoupling index, and Theil index, the research
evaluates the strength and dynamics of this relationship, revealing significant regional disparities and
evolving trends. The analysis shows that while the eastern region exhibits a relatively high level of
digital economy development with notable internal variation, the central region has shown gradual
improvements in coordination. The western region, despite progress, still requires further enhancement.
Specifically, provinces like Beijing and Tianjin struggle to balance digital economy growth and
ecological sustainability, whereas Jiangsu and Zhejiang have achieved a better synergy. The decoupling
index reveals that regions such as Tianjin and Hebei have successfully decoupled economic growth
from environmental degradation, while Shanxi and Inner Mongolia exhibit weak negative decoupling,
underscoring the need for enhanced environmental protection efforts. Nationally, the coupling
coordination degree generally trends upward, though a slight decline in 2021 indicates ongoing
challenges in achieving sustainable regional development. Policy recommendations include increasing
investment and policy support in the central and western regions, promoting green development,
improving ecological environment quality, and fostering interregional cooperation to achieve balanced
and sustainable development. This study provides valuable insights for regional policy-making aimed at
harmonizing digital economy development with ecological sustainability.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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