The Evolution Trajectory and Frontiers of Sustainable Development in Global Digital Economy Research: Insights from a Bibliometric Analysis

Trajectory and Frontiers of Global Digital Economy Development Research: Insights from a Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction

The digital economy, as the core paradigm driving global economic progress, is a field of study developing at an unprecedented rate. From Don Tapscott's pioneering discourse in 1996 to the G20's formal definition of the digital economy, it is no longer an isolated technological domain but profoundly influences global policymaking, educational reform, and geopolitical economic structures. With the rising global digital penetration rate, academic attention to the digital economy is growing exponentially, necessitating systematic research methods to map its developmental trajectory, identify core issues, and predict future trends. This study employs Bibliometric Analysis to quantify and visualize the evolution path of academic literature in the digital economy field, thereby providing structured insights for understanding its driving forces, identifying key research hotspots, and grasping future frontiers.

Background of the Event

The scope of the digital economy is vast, encompassing the utilization of knowledge and information as primary production factors, the internet as a key carrier, and information and communication technology as a driver of economic efficiency. The evolution of academic research is key to understanding how this paradigm moves from initial theoretical conception to practical application and policy formulation. The background of this study lies in the fact that with the explosive development of digital technologies, research hotspots and frontier issues in the digital economy are constantly emerging, requiring academia to use quantitative tools to track these dynamic changes. For instance, research indicates that the focus and research directions on the digital economy vary significantly across different disciplines (such as economics, management, and information systems) over different time periods. This study borrows the bibliometric method to reveal the "five stages" of evolution in digital economy research, providing a clear roadmap for academia.

Digital Economy Analysis

Through the analysis of academic literature, we observe that the field of digital economy research has undergone three distinct stages: the initial stable period, the gradual acceleration period, and the period of explosive growth in the last two years. This evolutionary trajectory is not only the self-iteration of academic research but also a macro reflection of the rapid evolution of the digital economy as a dominant global economic paradigm. Geographically, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom are leading regions in digital economy research, with a particularly close academic cooperation between the US and China, reflecting the mutual influence of global digital economy governance and technological competition.From a long-term perspective, research on the digital economy is rapidly evolving towards the intersection of "digital economy + green development."Global Trend Observation

From a long-term trend perspective, research on the digital economy is rapidly evolving towards the intersection of "digital economy + green development." This indicates that sustainability has risen from a peripheral issue to an endogenous constraint and core strategy for digital economy growth. The future structure of the digital economy will be a collection of highly integrated "Super Apps" and "Embedded Finance," where AI will serve as the core productive force, driving revolutionary improvements in productivity. The research trends in the digital economy predict that future competition will no longer be a simple technological iteration, but a comprehensive contest of ecosystem resilience, data governance capabilities, and environmental responsibility fulfillment. This is undoubtedly a long-term, structural trend, not a short-term technological hot topic.

DigitalEcoNews Insight

From the editorial perspective, the core economic significance of this econometric analysis report lies in providing a macro, structured perspective to understand the "evolutionary speed" and "value reshaping mechanism" of the digital economy. It goes beyond the description of single technologies, revealing that the development path of the digital economy as a complex system is multidimensional and phased, not linear. The key implication for corporate business models is: enterprises must embed "compliance" and "sustainability" into every decision point in their AI and platform strategies. Data is no longer just an asset, but a "responsibility" that needs careful governance. The implication for the future digital economy landscape is: the winners will not be companies with the most advanced technology, but those who can build the most robust and resilient ecosystems and transform data governance capabilities into competitive moats. Policymakers should combine the research hot topic of "digital economy and sustainability" to formulate forward-looking regulatory frameworks, ensuring that the benefits of technological progress are shared globally and avoiding systemic risks caused by regulatory lag.