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Research on the Digital Economy Development Levels of Countries Along the Belt and Road Initiative
Abstract
This study constructs a three-dimensional indicator system encompassing digital infrastructure, digital economic competitiveness, and the innovation environment for the digital economy. Using the entropy method, we quantitatively measure the digital economy development levels of 43 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from 2003 to 2022. The findings reveal significant disparities in digital economic development among these nations: Central and Eastern Europe exhibit relatively advanced levels, while South Asia, Central Asia, and Mongolia lag behind and require substantial improvement. Developed countries maintain a leading position in the digital economy, whereas developing countries display pronounced internal divergence. Over time, the digital economies of BRI countries generally show an upward trend, though growth rates vary significantly across nations. Based on these findings, we propose policy recommendations, including enhancing regional cooperation, narrowing the digital divide, and optimizing the policy environment, to foster coordinated digital economic development among BRI countries.
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