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Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments
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Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Practice in Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 3237

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raquel Ibar-Alonso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Economics I, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Paseo de los Artilleros s/n, 28032 Madrid, Spain
Interests: multivariate analysis; statistical learning; social behaviour; financial literacy
Dr. Maria-Carmen García-Centeno

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mathematics and Data Science, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Interests: time series; stochastic volatility; entrepreurship; gender
Dr. Raquel Quiroga-Garcia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Quantitative Economics, Universidad de Oviedo, Avda. del Cristo, s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Interests: financial markets; portfolio optimization; insurance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The management and innovation of economic systems within the digital environment have become essential drivers of competitiveness, growth, and sustainability, while also representing some of the greatest challenges and opportunities in today’s economy. Digital transformation has fundamentally redefined how organizations allocate resources, make decisions, and structure their operations. Disruptive technologies such as Big Data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms are not only optimizing processes but also creating new business models and opportunities for global expansion. This Special Issue seeks to explore the multifaceted impact of digital transformation on economic systems and invites contributions that address strategies for fostering sustainable and competitive economies in the digital era.

Aiming to highlight the importance of moving towards a more digitally sustainable world, articles that pay particular attention to the complex interplay of technology, sustainability practices, and the evolution of different economic sectors will also be welcome.

This topic aligns closely with the scope of Systems by examining the complex, interconnected nature of modern economic systems in the digital era. The integration of digital technologies fundamentally transforms how systems are managed, optimized, and innovated, making it essential to adopt a systems-thinking approach. By focusing on both the technological and organizational dimensions, this Special Issue addresses the challenges and opportunities that arise from system-wide changes, including resource allocation, decision-making, and the emergence of new business models. The multidisciplinary perspective encourages holistic research that advances the understanding of economic systems as dynamic, adaptive, and evolving entities within the broader context of digital transformation.

Dr. Raquel Ibar-Alonso
Dr. Maria-Carmen García-Centeno
Dr. Raquel Quiroga-Garcia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • digital transformation
  • innovation
  • big data analytics
  • artificial intelligence
  • disruptive technologies
  • resource optimization
  • sustainability
  • competitiveness

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 1216 KB  
Article
The Impact of Digital Economy Pilot Zones on Corporate New Quality Productive Forces: Evidence from Double Machine Learning
by Mingrui Rao and Yan Chen
Systems 2026, 14(4), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14040353 - 26 Mar 2026
Abstract
As a transformative force, the digital economy serves as a critical engine for driving high-quality economic development and fostering New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF)—characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality. Viewing the establishment of China’s National Digital Economy Innovation and Development [...] Read more.
As a transformative force, the digital economy serves as a critical engine for driving high-quality economic development and fostering New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF)—characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality. Viewing the establishment of China’s National Digital Economy Innovation and Development Pilot Zones as a quasi-natural experiment in economic system management, this study employs a Double Machine Learning (DML) framework to evaluate its systemic impact on A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2023. Unlike traditional linear models, the DML approach flexibly controls for high-dimensional confounding variables and functional form misspecification, thereby ensuring highly rigorous causal inference. The empirical results demonstrate that these pilot zones create an optimized “digital environment” that significantly enhances corporate NQPF, a conclusion that remains highly robust across a comprehensive battery of robustness and endogeneity tests. Mechanism analysis reveals three systemic transmission pathways through which the policy operates: optimizing factor allocation, deepening digital technology empowerment, and promoting green innovation and sustainability. Furthermore, heterogeneity analyses indicate that the policy’s efficacy varies significantly across corporate profiles, manifesting most prominently in non-state-owned enterprises, high-tech firms, and those located in eastern regions. These findings provide robust micro-level evidence for policymakers aiming to optimize digital economic systems and accelerate the systemic formation of advanced productive forces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments)
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29 pages, 509 KB  
Article
Digitalization-Based Predictive Maintenance Systems, Internet of Things Sensor Networks, and Machine Intelligence Algorithms for Industry 4.0/5.0 Manufacturing Processes
by Marek Nagy, Katarina Valaskova and George Lazaroiu
Systems 2026, 14(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14030281 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 457
Abstract
The digital transformation of manufacturing under Industry 4.0 has increased the relevance of predictive maintenance as a tool for improving operational efficiency and equipment reliability, particularly in the automotive industry. This study investigates how digitalization enables the integration of predictive maintenance in the [...] Read more.
The digital transformation of manufacturing under Industry 4.0 has increased the relevance of predictive maintenance as a tool for improving operational efficiency and equipment reliability, particularly in the automotive industry. This study investigates how digitalization enables the integration of predictive maintenance in the Slovak automotive sector and evaluates its impact on firm performance throughout the analyzed time period, while accounting for heterogeneity in digital maturity. The analysis is based on panel data from 62 automotive manufacturing firms operating in Slovakia between 2018 and 2023, obtained from the ORBIS database. Non-parametric methods, including the Friedman test with Dunn’s post hoc comparisons, are applied to examine changes in selected financial indicators following predictive maintenance implementation. Robust regression analysis is used to assess the relationship between digital adoption and performance, controlling for firm size, and k-means cluster analysis is employed to classify firms according to digitalization and adoption levels. The results indicate statistically significant changes in several financial metrics, including sales, operating expenses, and balance sheet items, reflecting both the impact of the COVID-19 disruption and the importance of predictive maintenance. Higher levels of digital adoption are positively associated with sales performance, and clustering reveals clear differences between highly digitalized firms, moderate adopters, and lagging firms. The findings suggest that predictive maintenance supported by digitalization is associated with performance improvements and highlight remaining gaps in digital maturity relative to Western European benchmarks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments)
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25 pages, 2002 KB  
Article
Digital Transformation and Human Capital in Europe’s Twin Transition: Sectoral Pathways to Productivity and Greenhouse Gas Intensity
by Francisco Rabadán-Pérez and Ester Muñoz-Céspedes
Systems 2026, 14(3), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14030227 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 377
Abstract
The twin transition combines digital transformation and the green transition and is a core pillar of the European agenda for the Digital Decade. This study examines how digital transformation and digital human capital relate to labor productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity across [...] Read more.
The twin transition combines digital transformation and the green transition and is a core pillar of the European agenda for the Digital Decade. This study examines how digital transformation and digital human capital relate to labor productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity across European industries. We compile a country–sector dataset covering 26 European Union Member States and ten NACE A*10 sectors for 2023 using harmonized Eurostat sources. We employ a path-analytic framework based on composite indicators to assess direct, indirect, and context-dependent associations among digital transformation, digital human capital, labor productivity, and environmental performance. The results indicate a positive association between digitalization and digital human capital. While digital skills are positively related to labor productivity, their mediating role between digitalization and labor productivity appears limited. The available evidence also suggests that artificial intelligence plays only a small moderating role in the relationships analysed. On the environmental side, higher levels of digitalization and digital skills are associated with a slight reduction in GHG intensity, although effects are modest and display sectoral heterogeneity. Overall, the findings provide disciplined empirical evidence that can inform discussions on policies and strategies aimed at fostering a competitive, digitally advanced, and lower-emissions economy in the European Union. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments)
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18 pages, 674 KB  
Article
Digital Economy Development and Ecological Efficiency: Analysis from a Regional Economic System Perspective
by Guoyao Yan and Yu Hao
Systems 2026, 14(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems14020218 - 19 Feb 2026
Viewed by 374
Abstract
The fast-expanding digital economy is reshaping the resource-allocation system and green-governance system, yet its contribution to ecological efficiency within the regional economic system remains insufficiently quantified. Using provincial panel data from China over 2011–2023, we establish a fixed-effects specification to examine how digital [...] Read more.
The fast-expanding digital economy is reshaping the resource-allocation system and green-governance system, yet its contribution to ecological efficiency within the regional economic system remains insufficiently quantified. Using provincial panel data from China over 2011–2023, we establish a fixed-effects specification to examine how digital economy development affects ecological efficiency and examine potential mechanisms. We find that digital economy development significantly improves ecological efficiency, and this result remains robust across a wide range of alternative specifications and sensitivity tests. The positive effect operates primarily through higher green innovation output and industrial upgrading. The above relationship exhibits a clear threshold with respect to environmental regulation: when regulation is relatively weak, the estimated impact of digital economy on ecological efficiency is statistically indistinguishable from zero, whereas once regulation exceeds the threshold, the positive effect becomes substantially stronger, consistent with complementarity between regulation and digitalization. Moreover, heterogeneity analyses further indicate larger gains in provinces with higher economic development and human capital. Our evidence underscores that aligning digital transformation with appropriately designed regulatory institutions can enhance ecological efficiency and support the innovation and management of a more sustainable and competitive economic system in the digital era. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments)
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22 pages, 1184 KB  
Article
Systemic Interactions Among Digital Transformation, Sustainable Orientation, and Economic Outcomes in EU Countries
by Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru and Claudiu George Bocean
Systems 2025, 13(10), 914; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13100914 - 17 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Digital transformation and sustainable orientation have become key drivers of economic development within the European Union. This study investigates how progress in digitalization and sustainable orientation influences economic outcomes. To address this objective, we apply a combination of techniques, including factor analysis to [...] Read more.
Digital transformation and sustainable orientation have become key drivers of economic development within the European Union. This study investigates how progress in digitalization and sustainable orientation influences economic outcomes. To address this objective, we apply a combination of techniques, including factor analysis to reduce dimensionality and identify underlying structures, generalized linear models to estimate causal connections and cluster analysis to group countries with similar profiles. The findings highlight strong complementarities between digital transformation and sustainable development in nurturing higher levels of economic outcome, with digital readiness amplifying the effects of sustainable development practices. Moreover, cluster analysis methods reveal significant asymmetries among EU countries, underlining persistent regional disparities in the pace of digital and sustainable transitions. The study concludes that a systems-based approach to managing the twin transition is essential for promoting convergence, competitiveness, and resilience in the EU economic system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic System Management, Sustainability, and Innovation in Digital Environments)
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