Research on the digital economy of the Chengdu-Chongqing twin-city economic circle: Spatial structure, formation mechanism, and optimization path

Against the backdrop of the “Digital China” strategy and regional coordinated development, the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle, China’s “fourth pole” of economic growth, sees its digital economy’s development trends and spatial patterns profoundly influencing national regional strategy implementation. Based on regional and spatial economics theories, this paper systematically analyzes the spatial structure characteristics and multi-dimensional formation mechanisms of the region’s digital economy, and proposes targeted optimization paths. The study finds the digital economy presents an uneven “dual-core leadership, axis expansion, multi-point clustering” structure, with Chengdu and Chongqing’s main urban areas as core growth poles and innovation sources. Its formation results from the joint effect of policy drive, market endogeneity, industrial support, and innovation network synergy. To address challenges like solidified “core-periphery” structure and industrial homogeneity, the paper suggests optimizing development through strengthening top-level design, co-building digital infrastructure, and deepening regional collaborative governance, providing support for fostering a high-quality development growth pole.