数字经济对城乡居民收入差距的影响研究——基于地级市面板数据

Study on the Impact of the Digital Economy on the Income Gap between Urban and Rural Residents—Based on Prefecture-Level City Panel Data

摘要: 在数字经济成为重要驱动力的新发展阶段，其对城乡居民收入差距的影响已成为重点议题。然而，现有研究关于数字经济的影响效应尚未形成一致结论，主要存在扩大、缩小及非线性关系三种观点，本文利用中国地级市面板数据进行实证检验，系统考察数字经济对城乡收入差距的直接影响，以期为协调数字发展与收入分配提供依据。本研究梳理了数字经济通过要素配置重构、产业融合升级与公共服务均等化三大渠道影响城乡收入差距的作用机制。在实证层面，选取综合指标测度地级市数字经济发展水平，采用双向固定效应模型进行基准回归，并利用纳入关键控制变量与变量缩尾处理等方法进行稳健性检验。研究结果表明，在当前发展阶段，数字经济的整体发展显著拉大了城乡居民收入差距，这一结论在经过一系列检验后依然稳健。基于此，本文提出以下政策建议：一是强化数字基础设施在乡村地区的普惠覆盖与质量提升，着力弥合“数字鸿沟”；二是实施面向农村居民的专项数字技能培训，提升其数字竞争力与增收能力；三是推动数字技术与农业农村经济深度融合，培育乡村内生发展动力，引导数字经济更好地服务于城乡协调发展与共同富裕目标。

Abstract: In this new development phase where the digital economy has become a key driver, its impact on the income gap between urban and rural residents has emerged as a critical issue. However, existing research on the effects of the digital economy has yet to reach a consensus, with three main perspectives: widening, narrowing, and nonlinear relationships. This paper employs panel data from China’s prefecture-level cities to conduct empirical tests, systematically examining the direct impact of the digital economy on urban-rural income disparities. The aim is to provide evidence for coordinating digital development with income distribution. This study identifies three primary channels through which the digital economy influences urban-rural income disparities: restructuring factor allocation, promoting industrial integration and upgrading, and advancing equalization of public services. Empirically, a composite index measures the digital economy development level of prefecture-level cities. A two-way fixed effects model is employed for benchmark regression, with robustness tests conducted using key control variables and variable trimming. The findings indicate that at the current stage of development, the overall growth of the digital economy significantly widens the income gap between urban and rural residents. This conclusion remains robust after undergoing a series of tests. Based on these findings, the paper proposes the following policy recommendations: First, strengthen the inclusive coverage and quality improvement of digital infrastructure in rural areas to bridge the “digital divide.” Second, implement specialized digital skills training programs for rural residents to enhance their digital competitiveness and income-generating capacity. Third, promote the deep integration of digital technologies with the agricultural and rural economy to cultivate endogenous development momentum in rural areas, thereby guiding the digital economy to better serve the goals of coordinated urban-rural development and common prosperity.