Measurement and Coupling Relationship of Economic Resilience in Southwest China Driven by the Digital Economy

Abstract

Under the dual background of the advancement of the “Digital China” strategy and the increasing global economic uncertainty, the synergistic development of the digital economy and regional economic resilience has become a key approach to addressing regional development imbalances and enhancing risk resistance capabilities. This study takes the four southwestern provinces and cities, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Guizhou, as the research objects. The entropy method is employed to measure the digital economy and economic resilience development indices from 2011 to 2023. The coupling coordination degree model is then used to systematically investigate the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and linkage mechanisms of the coupling coordination relationship between the two. The results show that: 1) The development of the digital economy in the four provinces and cities exhibits a three-stage pattern of “initial accumulation – rapid growth – steady callback,” with a regional gradient distribution characterized by “Sichuan leading, Chongqing following closely, and Yunnan-Guizhou catching up.” 2) The economic resilience index shows a continuous linear upward trend, with regional gaps gradually narrowing, displaying significant catch-up and convergence features. 3) There is a significant positive synergistic effect between the digital economy and economic resilience. The overall coupling coordination degree shows a continuous upward trend, evolving from a state of imbalance in 2011 to a high-quality coordination level by 2023. The regional pattern is characterized by “Sichuan highest, Chongqing second, and Yunnan-Guizhou relatively close,” with differences in coordination stability across regions. This study enriches the theoretical framework of digital economy empowerment for regional economic resilience and provides empirical evidence and policy references for the four southwestern provinces and cities to optimize digital economy layout, enhance economic resilience, and promote high-quality coordinated development.