Evaluation of coupling coordination development between digital economy and green finance: Evidence from 30 provinces in China

PLoS One. 2023 Oct 13;18(10):e0291936. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291936. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The convergence of China's digital economy and green finance holds great significance for fostering a sustainable and high-quality developmental path. However, existing studies have not explored the coupling coordination development between these two crucial subsystems. To bridge this gap, this paper employs a modified coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to assess and affirm the coupling coordination degree between the digital economy and green finance across 30 provinces in China from 2015-2021. Based on degree results, provinces are classified into three clusters by using K-means and hierarchical clustering algorithm. Our findings unveil that the current level of coupling coordination development in China is at a primary coordination stage. Although regional disparities significantly exist, the overall level of coordination remains steadily increasing, with the eastern region outperforming the western region. Additionally, we determine that the COVID-19 pandemic's disruption on the coupling coordination development of these systems has been limited. This research sheds light on the evolution of coupling systems and offers practical recommendations for strengthening the coordinated development of the digital economy and green finance.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • China
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Economic Development
  • Humans
  • Pandemics

Grants and funding

This study was financially supported by Department of Education of Anhui Province in the form of a grants (KJ2021A0966; 2022AH051585) received by J.W, a grant (2023AH051512) received by ZL, and a grant (2023AH051508) received by LS. This study was also financially supported by Anhui University of Science & Technology in the form of a grant (QNSK202001) received by XZ. This study was also financially supported by Mining Enterprise Safety Management of Humanities and Social Science Key Research Base in Anhui Province in the form of a grant (MF2022006) received by XZ. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.