Author(s)

Xueting Zhang ¹, Hailan Pan ¹, Donglian Que ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China

Corresponding Author

Hailan Pan

ABSTRACT

With globalization growing faster and information technology advancing, the digital economy is increasingly becoming key to promoting high-quality economic development. Using data from 2011-2023, the impact of digital economy development on China's provincial trade openness is investigated by constructing a fixed effects model, robustness test, and heterogeneity test. Studies indicate that the digital economy significantly enhances trade openness, although its effects vary by region; the influence is more substantial in the eastern and central zones, while the western region shows a minimal impact. Foreign investment, R&D investment, and human capital positively affect trade openness. Going forward, efforts should focus on advancing coordinated digital growth, increasing the input of factors, and deepening regional synergy to promote high-level trade openness and high-quality economic development.

KEYWORDS

Digital Economy; Trade Openness; Fixed Effects Model; Heterogeneity

CITE THIS PAPER

Xueting Zhang, Hailan Pan, Donglian Que, Research on the Impact of Digital Economy Development on China's Provincial Trade Openness: Empirical Evidence Based on Panel Data from 2011 to 2023. Population, Resources & Environmental Economics (2025) Vol. 6: 104-113. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/pree.2025.060114.

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