Research on the digital economy and transformation performance of resource-based cities——based on the perspective of factor interaction

Against the backdrop of global economic digital transformation, the transformation of resource-based cities has emerged as a critical research agenda. Drawing upon panel data encompassing 113 resource-based cities in China from 2013 to 2023, this study systematically investigates the impact mechanism of the digital economy on transformation performance from the perspective of factor interaction. Diverging from extant literature that predominantly focuses on a single dimension of the digital economy or a particular facet of transformation performance, this study constructs a comprehensive digital economy evaluation system comprising four constituent elements—digital infrastructure, digital innovation, digital production, and digital finance—alongside a transformation performance evaluation system encompassing three dimensions: economic, social, and ecological. The study thoroughly examines the substitutive and complementary relationships among the four elements and their heterogeneous impacts on transformation performance. Empirical findings reveal that: the digital economy demonstrates a statistically significant positive correlation with transformation performance, thereby corroborating the dual theoretical logic of endogenous growth theory and resource curse theory; factor interaction effects indicate that digital infrastructure and innovation/finance elements, as well as digital production and finance elements, exhibit substitutive relationships, whereas digital innovation and finance elements manifest complementary relationships, thereby elucidating the complex systemic characteristics of dynamic coupling among the four digital economy elements; heterogeneity analysis reveals that growing, declining, and regenerative cities significantly benefit from digital empowerment, whereas mature cities exhibit digital retardation. effects attributable to structural rigidity and path dependence, and cities with elevated economic development levels demonstrate more pronounced digital dividends. The marginal contribution of this study resides in: systematically revealing, for the first time, the impact mechanism of digital economy factor interaction on resource-based city transformation performance, identifying differentiated response patterns across cities at distinct life-cycle stages, and furnishing theoretical and empirical support for the formulation of precise transformation strategies for resource-based cities. Based upon these findings, it is recommended that governments strengthen the strategic positioning of the digital economy, optimize factor synergy mechanisms, and formulate precise transformation strategies commensurate with city-type heterogeneity, so as to promote sustainable development of resource-based cities.