Digital economy, technological innovation, and green economic efficiency—Empirical evidence from 277 cities in China

Based on the panel data of 277 cities in China from 2011 to 2018, this paper constructs the digital economy index and the green economy efficiency index. The research found the following: first, the digital economy has significantly improved the efficiency of the green economy in the region. Second, the digital economy has a greater impact on the efficiency of the green economy in the eastern region and large cities than in the central and western regions and small cities. Third, technological innovation is an important way for digital economy to improve the efficiency level of green economy.