Using fixed, mediating, and moderating effect models, we explored the impact of the digital economy on carbon emission intensity and its mechanisms based on panel data of 100 cities in 6 Chinese urban agglomerations from 2011 to 2019. The results show that (1) the digital economy development in the urban agglomerations can significantly reduce carbon emission intensity. (2) The digital economy in the urban agglomerations can indirectly reduce carbon emission intensity through the channels of green technology innovation and the information communications technology (ICT) industry. Furthermore, a higher degree of marketization in the urban agglomerations leads to a more pronounced effect of the digital economy on reducing carbon emission intensity. (3) The impact of the digital economy on the carbon emission intensity in the urban agglomerations is regionally heterogeneous. When the carbon emission intensity is at different quantiles, the effects of the digital economy on reducing carbon emission intensity are different. (4) The digital economy development has different impacts on carbon emission intensity when different urban agglomerations are approved. The digital economy development in the urban agglomerations can better reduce carbon emission intensity than that in other cities. Currently, China is in a significant period of rapid digital economy development and energy conservation and emission reduction. We revealed some new features of the digital economy and carbon emission intensity in urban agglomerations, providing a reference for promoting the construction of urban agglomerations, developing the digital economy, and reducing carbon emission intensity.
Keywords: Carbon emission; Digital economy; Mediating effect; Moderating effect; Urban agglomeration.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.