The impact of market integration on the digital divide: An analysis based on the heterogeneous effect of innovation resource synergy

Resource market reforms have provided opportunities for reducing the digital divide (DD). In this study, we analyzed the theoretical mechanism of the impact of market integration (MI) on DD and the intermediary role of innovation resource (IR) synergy. Data from 271 cities in China were collected, and the DEA–Malmquist index and Thiel index were utilized to quantify DD among these cities during 2011–2019. The intermediary effect and SDM models were adopted for an empirical analysis. The results showed that (1) MI had a negative effect on DD in addition to significant spatial spillover effects. MI widened DD in the local city but narrowed the same in the adjacent cities. (2) IR synergy exerted positive intermediary effects, which were heterogeneous. Through human resource synergy, MI narrowed DD, through knowledge synergy, MI widened DD, and through the R&D capital synergy, MI did not significantly influence DD. (3) There was no significant spatial spillover effect of the intermediary role of IR synergy. Methods For the selection of spatial scope, missing data were excluded from the national list of cities, resulting in 271 cities. Most empirical data were sourced from the China Statistical Yearbook, China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook, the statistical yearbooks of provinces (municipals and districts) and cities, the web of Mark Data (https://www.macrodatas.cn/). The expedition period was between the year 2011 to 2019 owing to the availability of data. Type of variable Variable Index Proxy Variables Data source Dependent variable Variables for measuring the efficiency of DE Input: Labor Number of employees in information transmission, computer services, and software industries The China Statistical Yearbook Output: Total telecom services revenue Total telecom services revenue The webpage of Mark Data Output: DE output DE index The webpage of Mark Data DE efficiency Total factor productivity Total factor productivity / DD Thiel index Thiel index / Intermediary variable Degree of intercity IR collaboration R&D fund synergy value R&D fund synergy value China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook HR synergy value HR synergy value China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook Knowledge synergy value Knowledge synergy value China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook composite synergy index of IRs Composite synergy index of IRs / Independent variable MI MI Index MI Index / Control variable Economic openness Trade Total import and export trade (100 million yuan) The China Statistical Yearbook Investment transactions Foreign capital level: Actual amount of foreign capital used (USD 10,000) The China Statistical Yearbook Number of foreign enterprises: Number of foreign direct investment enterprises The China Statistical Yearbook Factor flow Freight volume (10,000 tons) The China Statistical Yearbook Passenger traffic volume (10,000 tons) The China Statistical Yearbook Transaction system quality Market stability maintenance capability Ratio of the number of employees in public management and social organizations to the total population (%) The China Statistical Yearbook Industrial coordination degree Advanced industrial structure Ratio of tertiary industry output value to secondary industry output value (%) The China Statistical Yearbook Urbanization level Social urbanization Lighting index of urbanization level The Harvard Dataverse Innovation environment R&D personnel input Number of full-time teachers in ordinary colleges and universities (per person) The China Statistical Yearbook