Can digital economy alleviate carbon curse?

LIU Chang; LIU Shimiao; HOU Jiahong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-9605.2025.1.mtjjyj202501005

Abstract：Whether the development of the digital economy can alleviate carbon curse is worthy discussing.Based on the typical characteristics of China's urban development,this study proposes transmission mechanisms for the carbon curse and hypothesizes the moderating effect of the digital economy.Using panel data from 269 prefecture-level cities in China spanning 2011-2021,the study empirically examines the impact mechanism of the digital economy on the carbon curse and conducts a series of robustness tests and heterogeneity analysis.The key findings are as follows:① Dependence on natural resources significantly increases carbon intensity,confirming the existence of a carbon curse at the urban level in China.② Natural resource dependence exacerbates carbon intensity by crowding out human capital and inhibiting technological innovation.③ The digital economy has a significant negative effect on the relationship between natural resource dependence and carbon intensity,the alleviating effect of carbon curse is more significant in growing and mature resource-based cities.④ Mechanistically,the digital economy weakens the adverse effects of natural resource dependence on human capital and technological innovation,facilitating a reduction in carbon intensity.To effectively alleviate the carbon curse,efforts should focus on promoting the development of the digital economy,especially in growing and mature resource-based cities,enhancing human capital accumulation,advancing energy-efficient technologies,and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy structures.