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.