RUDN Journal of EconomicsRUDN Journal of EconomicsВестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Экономика2313-23292408-8986Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)4729610.22363/2313-2329-2025-33-3-427-450FMKEKODIGITALIZATION OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMYЦИФРОВИЗАЦИЯ МИРОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИResearch ArticleThe impact of the digital economy on the structure of industrial agglomerations: data from 31 administrative regions of ChinaВлияние цифровой экономики на структуру промышленных агломераций: данные по 31 административному району Китаяhttps://orcid.org/0009-0001-0680-139XJinBaimingЦзиньБаймин

postgraduate student of the Department of National Economics, Faculty of Economics

аспирант кафедры национальной экономики, экономического факультета

1042238023@pfur.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5776-36962730-1634VoskerichyanRobert O.ВоскеричянРоберт Оганесович

Candidate of Science (In Economics), associate professor of the Department of National Economics, Faculty of Economics

кандидат экономических наук, доцент кафедры национальной экономики экономического факультета

voskerichyanro@rudn.ruRUDN UniversityРоссийский университет дружбы народов15112025333Modernization and innovation: new challenges for the worldМодернизация и инновации: новые вызовы мировой экономики42745025112025Copyright ©; 2025, Jin B., Voskerichyan R.O.Copyright ©; 2025, Цзинь Б., Воскеричян Р.О.2025Jin B., Voskerichyan R.O.Цзинь Б., Воскеричян Р.О.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/economics/article/view/47296

The problems of industrial agglomerations have been widely studied due to its important role in regional economic development. However, in the era of digital economy, due to its characteristic of ignoring geographical and spatial limitations, this phenomenon fundamentally challenges the traditional industrial agglomeration model. The relevance of this study is determined by the lack of research on the impact of the digital economy on the agglomeration of traditional manufacturing industries, especially in terms of regional heterogeneity and mechanism. Based on panel data of 31 provincial administrative regions in China from 2012 to 2022, this study uses an empirical model to analyze the impact of the digital economy on the level of industrial agglomeration in various provinces in China and deeply explores its mechanism and regional heterogeneity. The research results show that the development of the digital economy has significantly inhibited the agglomeration of traditional industries. Further, this inhibitory effect is weakened in regions with higher levels of economic development. As a key interaction term, the per capita GDP level directly affects the impact of the digital economy on industrial agglomeration. Further mechanism test results confirm that the digital economy can jointly affect industrial agglomeration through direct and indirect paths. As a key mediating variable, the digital economy can weaken industrial agglomeration through the “deindustrialization” path.

Проблематика промышленных агломераций достаточно широко изучена в связи с ее важной ролью в региональном экономическом развитии. Однако цифровая экономика, характеризуемая игнорированием географических и пространственных ограничений, бросает фундаментальный вызов традиционной модели промышленной агломерации. Исследование основано на панельных данных по 31 административному району Китая за период с 2012 по 2022 г. Использована эмпирическая модель для анализа влияния цифровой экономики на уровень промышленных агломераций в различных провинциях Китая и подробно исследован их механизм и региональная неоднородность. Результаты исследования показали, что развитие цифровой экономики значительно замедлило рост агломераций традиционных отраслей промышленности. Кроме того, этот сдерживающий эффект ослабевает в регионах с более высоким уровнем экономического развития. Уровень ВВП на душу населения напрямую влияет на воздействие цифровой экономики на промышленную агломерацию. Дальнейшие результаты тестирования механизма подтверждают, что цифровая экономика может влиять на промышленную агломерацию прямым и косвенным образом. Являясь ключевой опосредующей переменной, цифровая экономика может ослабить промышленную агломерацию путем «деиндустриализации».

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