The Influence of the Digital Economy on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vitality: Base on the Perspective of International Trade
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/24pcc652Keywords:
Digital Economy; Entrepreneurship and Innovation Activity; Foreign Trade; Threshold Effect.Abstract
In the current wave of global technological revolution and industrial transformation, the digital economy is leading innovation and change with unprecedented vitality. Based on panel data from 29 Chinese provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions (excluding Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau) from 2012 to 2022, this paper delves into the impact of the digital economy on the vitality of mass entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Empirical results show that the digital economy significantly enhances this vitality. Specifically, its promoting effect becomes more evident when foreign trade exceeds 2.736 million US dollars, indicating a nonlinear relationship. Additionally, the influence of the digital economy on mass entrepreneurship and innovation varies regionally, with eastern regions showing a more pronounced promoting effect than central and western regions. Consequently, the paper proposes the following policy recommendations: first, strengthen digital infrastructure, reduce business entry barriers, decrease information asymmetry, and boost mass entrepreneurship and innovation vitality; second, promote deep integration of the digital economy with foreign trade by building digital trade platforms to enhance enterprises' international competitiveness; and third, develop region-specific policies to encourage balanced digital economic growth and narrow regional development gaps.
Downloads
References
[1] Bao, Z.S., Han, J., Weng, M., et al. How the Digital Economy Promotes High-Quality Development of Foreign Trade [J]. International Economy and Trade Exploration, 2023, 39(2): 4-20.
[2] Chao, X.J., Wang, C.W., Wang, C. Theoretical Mechanisms and Implementation Paths for the Digital Economy to Drive High-Quality Economic Development [J]. Economic Review, 2024, 3(3): 108-117.
[3] Freund C L,Weinhold D.(2000).The effect of the Internet on international trade [J].International Finance Discussion Papers,62(1): 171-189.
[4] Freund C,Weinhold D.(2002). The Internet and International Trade in Services [J].American Economic Review,92(2):2433-2434.
[5] Hansen B E. (1999). Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: estimation, testing, and inference [J]. Journal of Econometrics, 93 (2) 345-368.
[6] Hao, S.J. Research on the Relationship Between Foreign Trade and Industrial Structure Upgrading [J]. Statistics Science and Practice, 2014, 2(2): 28-30.
[7] He, X.Y., Chu, D.Y. Government Governance Digital Transformation and Urban Entrepreneurship Activity Enhancement [J]. Shanghai Economic Research, 2023, 9(9): 41-53.
[8] Huang, X.Y. Carbon Productivity, Digital Economy Level, and Manufacturing Export Technology Sophistication [J]. Era Economics and Trade, 2023, 20(2): .
[9] Jiang, H., Wu, M.E.J. Aishan, Deng, F. Threshold Effects of the Digital Economy on Entrepreneurship Activity: A Perspective on Effective Markets and Proactive Governance [J]. Technology Economics and Management Research, 2024, 11(11): 53-61.
[10] Jiang, S., Zhou, X.Y. Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on High-Quality Economic Development [J]. Financial Forum, 2021, 26(8): 39-49.
[11] Jing, W.J., Sun, B.W. The Digital Economy Promotes High-Quality Economic Development: A Theoretical Analytical Framework [J]. Economist, 2019, 2(2): 66-73.
[12] Keller,,W. (2002) Trade and the transmission of technology [J]. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH,7(1):5-24.
[13] Li, J.Z. Reflections on Internet Finance [J]. Management World, 2015, 31(7): 1-7, 16.
[14] Luo, H.Y., Yang, L., Yang, R.L., et al. Digital Economy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activity, and Urban Economic Resilience [J]. Journal of Management, 2025, 2(2): 148-158.
[15] Rauch J E.(2001) . Business and Social Networks in International Trade [J]. Journal of Economic Literature, 39(4):1177-1203.
[16] Shi, L.P., Wang, S.Y. Mechanism Analysis of the Internet’s Role in Promoting China’s Foreign Trade Development: Empirical Evidence from Panel Data of 31 Provinces [J]. World Economy Studies, 2018, 12(12): 48-59+132-133.
[17] The State Council of the People’s Republic of China. "Digital China" 10th Anniversary: China’s Digital Economy Accelerates in 2025 [R/OL]. (2025-04-29) [2025-05-08]. https://www.gov.cn/yaowen/liebiao/202504/content_7021837.htm
[18] Wang, W. Theoretical Mechanisms and Implementation Paths for the Digital Economy to Drive High-Quality Foreign Trade Development [J]. Price Theory and Practice, 2024, 2(2): 169-173.
[19] Wen, J., You, H.B. Research on the Impact of the Internet on China’s Foreign Trade [J]. Research on Economic Issues, 2015, 2(2): 71-78.
[20] Xiong, B., Wang, Z.W. Impact of the "Dual Pilot" Policy for the Digital Economy on Entrepreneurship Activity: A Synergistic Perspective of Proactive Governance and Effective Markets [J]. Modern Finance (Tianjin University of Finance and Economics Journal), 2024, 44(6): 36-53.
[21] Ye, W.P., Li, X.C., Chen, Q.Y., et al. Impact of Floating Population on Urban Entrepreneurship Activity: Mechanisms and Evidence [J]. Economic Research, 2018, 53(6): 157-170.
[22] Zheng, W., Lu, Y.Q. Digital Finance, Business Environment, and High-Quality Entrepreneurship [J]. Modern Economic Research, 2023, 5(5): 85-95.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.