Coupling and Coordinated Development Analysis of Digital Economy, Economic Resilience, and Ecological Protection

At the critical stage of China’s economic transformation, promoting integrated development among the digital economy, economic resilience, and ecological protection becomes essential to achieve high-quality national development. This study takes 30 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) as research subjects. A comprehensive index system evaluates coupling coordination among the digital economy, economic resilience, and ecological protection. The three-system coupled coordination model and obstacle degree model are employed. The research investigates comprehensive evaluation levels of these three systems. Evolutionary characteristics of their coupled coordination are analyzed. Influencing factors are identified through systematic examination. Key findings reveal: (1) Provincial digital economy, economic resilience, and ecological protection generally maintained good comprehensive evaluation levels between 2011 and 2021. Significant regional development imbalances persist nationwide. (2) Coupled coordination among the three systems remains moderate but shows overall growth trends. Development characteristics demonstrate notable temporal inadequacies and spatial imbalances. Provinces achieving primary and intermediate coordination levels increased from 1 to 12 during the study period. (3) Spatial autocorrelation features prominently in the three-system coordination. Cold and hot spot areas exhibit clustered distribution patterns. (4) Main obstacles constraining three-system coupling coordination show temporal and regional variations. These evolving barriers collectively form a dynamic coupling system. Policy recommendations include: Advancing coordinated development and organic integration of the three systems; enhancing cross-regional collaboration to reduce spatial and systemic disparities; and implementing multi-source driving strategies to strengthen coordinated development momentum.