Research On Digital Economy Promoting Manufacturing Upgrading In Yangtze River Economic Belt

In the 21 st century,with the rapid development of information technology,the digital economy,which takes data as the production factor,has become increasingly significant in promoting the national economy and society.In February 2023,the State Council issued the Overall Layout Plan for the Construction of Digital China,which points out that the digital economy is an important engine to promote Chinese path to modernization in the digital era and a strong support to build a new competitive advantage of the country.The real economy is the foundation of economic development.Accelerating the digital economy to empower the manufacturing industry and reversing the situation where China’s manufacturing industry is large but not strong and lacks innovation is of great significance for creating a manufacturing power.Relying on superior geographical advantages and strong manufacturing foundation,the Yangtze River Economic Belt occupies an important position in China’s economic construction.Using relevant data from the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2013 to 2020 as a sample,explore the promotion role of the digital economy on manufacturing upgrading.This article explores the relationship between the digital economy and manufacturing upgrading from both direct and indirect perspectives,constructs an indicator system using entropy method,and measures the development level of the digital economy in 11 provinces and cities during the review period.It comprehensively measures the upgrading level of the manufacturing industry from the perspectives of structural modernization and structural rationalization.Using a fixed effect model to verify the existence of direct impact,and introducing human capital and technological innovation as intermediate variables to construct a mediation effect model to verify the existence of indirect impact,and then conducting a regional heterogeneity analysis.Taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt chemical manufacturing digitization process as an example,it is verified that there are indeed promoting effects in these two directions.The following conclusions are drawn:(1)The imbalance in the development of manufacturing and digital economy among provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt;(2)The degree of development of the digital economy has a significant promoting effect on the upgrading of the manufacturing industry;(3)The promotion mechanism has two direct and indirect ways of influence;and(4)The promotion effect has a differentiated impact on regions with different levels of digital economy development.Based on the research findings and the actual situation of the Yangtze River Economic Belt,macro level recommendations are proposed: changing management concepts,improving infrastructure,strengthening digital vocational education,and strengthening policy guidance;Micro level: Suggestions for upgrading strategic industries,optimizing resource allocation,and implementing differentiated employment policies.