Digital Economy, Environmental Regulation and Green Industrial Shift: Cities in the Yangtze River Basin

In a context of dual resource and environmental constraints, a pivotal facet of achieving resilient economic expansion involves globally enhancing ecological resource utilization. As the tech-driven economy plays an increasingly prominent role in optimizing resource allocation, there is a pressing need to delve deeper into the procedure governing the overall productivity of ecological factors. This study undertakes a comprehensive exploration through theoretical discourse and empirical testing to understand the impact of the digital economy on conservation legislation and the collective sustainability output. Utilizing sample data from 108 cities along the Yangtze River during the period 2014-2021, we employ the top-tier SBM effectiveness model to gauge collective green resource effectiveness. Furthermore, the investigation employs DID and DDD methods to scrutinize the effects of environmental policies and the digital economic landscape on the industry's overall eco-conscious output. The findings indicate that the implementation of environmental policies contributes to the enhancement of overall eco-efficiency of production. As novel productivity evolves, the beneficial moderating role played by digital innovation for both factors. This underscores the growing influence of the cyber economy alongside the continued growth of innovative productivity.