Study on the spatiotemporal evolution of coupled and coordinated digital economic resilience and efficiency

The coordinated development of resilience and efficiency in the digital economy guarantees a sustainable and efficient growth model. We used panel data from 30 provinces and regions in China from 2013 to 2021 to evaluate the resilience and efficiency levels of the digital economy. We calculated their coordinated development levels using kernel density estimation, spatial autocorrelation, and Markov chain analysis to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of their coordinated development. The results indicate that (1) the resilience level of the digital economy is on the rise, while efficiency fluctuations are decreasing. Resilience exhibits an “east high–west low” spatial pattern with the “Hu Huanyong Line” as a boundary, while efficiency shows a “collapse in the central and northern regions” trend. (2) The overall level of coordinated development between resilience and efficiency has decreased; however, the differences in coordination between different regions have reduced, gradually forming a spatial pattern of “high in the east, low in the west, low in the south, and high in the north.” (3) A significant positive spatial correlation exists between the development levels of digital economic resilience and efficiency, which continues to strengthen over time. This finding reveals a spatial pattern of high-level concentration centered around Beijing–Tianjin, Jiangsu–Zhejiang–Shanghai, and low-level concentration centered around the central and western regions. (4) Coordinated development shows a “club convergence” effect, indicating stability in maintaining the existing state.