Research on the Mechanism and Spatial Effect of Digital Finance on Energy Efficiency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54691/yg5ej338Keywords:
Digital finance; Mediating effects; Spatial Dubin model;Abstract
Digital economy has become the mainstream form of global economic development in the new era. Digital finance relies on digital technology to optimize the allocation of financial resources, break traditional financial barriers, and effectively guide the flow of funds to green and low-carbon fields, which plays an important role in improving energy efficiency and promoting green transformation. Based on the realistic background of "double carbon" strategy and green energy transformation, this paper takes clarifying the impact mechanism and spatial effect of digital Finance on green all factor energy efficiency as the core goal, constructs an integrated analysis framework based on financial function theory, financial exclusion theory, endogenous growth theory and Porter hypothesis, systematically analyzes the mechanism of digital finance affecting energy efficiency from the theoretical level, and identifies three core intermediary transmission channels: technological innovation, industrial structure upgrading and regional economic development level. Systematic tests are carried out by using two-way fixed effect model, spatial Dubin model and Moran index. Theoretical analysis shows that digital finance can significantly improve the energy efficiency of regional green total factors, and the conclusion has good robustness; Digital finance can indirectly enable energy efficiency improvement through technological innovation, industrial upgrading and economic growth path; Its green enabling effect has dimension and environmental regulation heterogeneity, and shows significant positive spatial spillover characteristics. The development of local digital finance can drive the improvement of energy efficiency in neighboring areas. Based on the research conclusions, this paper puts forward optimization countermeasures from the aspects of improving digital financial infrastructure, smoothing multi-dimensional transmission paths, implementing differentiated regional policies, and building a cross regional collaborative governance mechanism, so as to provide theoretical reference and practical enlightenment for relying on digital finance to help regional energy quality and efficiency improvement and promote green and high-quality development.
Downloads
References
[1] Ozili, P. K. (2018). Impact of digital finance on financial inclusion and stability. Borsa Istanbul Review, 18(4), 329–340.
[2] Zhang, X., Wan, G., & Wu, H. (2021). Narrowing the Digital Divide: The Development of Digital Finance with Chinese Characteristics. Social Sciences in China, (8), 35–51+204–205.
[3] Chen, P., Huang, K., & Zhu, C. (2024). Digital Inclusive Finance and New Productivity: Impact Effects and Mechanism Testing. Credit Investigation, (10), 54–63.
[4] He, J., & Ma, L. (2024). Research on Digital Inclusive Finance Promoting Common Prosperity - Also Discussing the Effects of "Wealth Creation and Sustainability". Credit Investigation, 42(9), 71–82.
[5] Beck, T., Demirguc-Kunt, A., & Peria, M. S. (2007). Reaching out: Access to and use of banking services across countries. Journal of Financial Economics, 85(1), 234–266.
[6] Sarma, M., & Pais, J. (2011). Financial inclusion and development. Journal of International Development, 23(5), 613–628.
[7] Jiao, J., Huang, T., Wang, T., et al. (2015). Development Process and Empirical Research of Inclusive Finance in China. Shanghai Finance, (4), 12–22.
[8] Guo, F., Wang, J., Wang, F., et al. (2020). Measuring the Development of Digital Inclusive Finance in China: Index Compilation and Spatial Characteristics. Economics (Quarterly), 19(4), 1401–1418.
[9] Zhong, H., & Lu, X. (2024). Construction of Digital Finance Development Indicators and International Comparative Study. International Finance Research, (9), 48–60.
[10] Zhu, J., Liu, Y., & Zheng, X. (2026). Will Peer Green Transformation Force Corporate Green Innovation? An Analysis of Spillover Effects Based on Text Mining. Journal of Systems Management, 35(2), 462–477.
[11] Lapillonne, B., Bosseboeuf, D., & Chateau, B. (1997). Cross-country comparison on energy efficiency indicators: the on-going European effort towards a common methodology. Energy Policy, 25(7–9), 673–682.
[12] Hu, J.-L., & Wang, S.-C. (2006). Total-factor energy efficiency of regions in China. Energy Policy, 34(17), 3206–3217.
[13] Goh, T., & Ang, B. W. (2020). Four reasons why there is so much confusion about energy efficiency. Energy Policy, 146, 111832.
[14] Shi, D. (2006). Regional Differences in China's Energy Efficiency and Analysis of Energy-saving Potential. China Industrial Economics, (10), 49–58.
[15] Wang, X., & Yang, C. (2024). Energy-saving Target Policies and Regional Energy Efficiency. Journal of Quantitative Economics and Technical Economics, 41(5), 49–70.
[16] Cui, Q., Ma, X., & Zhang, S. (2022). Evaluation of Green Total Factor Energy Efficiency and Research on Influencing Factors - Based on Data Analysis of China's Eight Economic Zones. Technical Economics and Management Research, (3), 94–99.
[17] Yao, M., Pan, J., & Ren, Y. (2026). Spatial-temporal pattern evolution and regional difference decomposition of China's new-quality productive forces. Science and Technology Management Research, 46(13), 86–95.
[18] Zhuang, L., & Zhang, X. (2026). The Impact of Environmental Protection Tax on Regional Carbon Emissions and Its Spatial Spillover Effect. Ecological Economics, 42(5), 42–50.
[19] Qin, X., & Hou, Y. (2023). Industrial agglomeration and urban energy efficiency: theoretical mechanism and spatial empirical evidence. Journal of Beijing Institute of Technology (Social Science Edition), 25(5), 28–39.
[20] Chen, J., Lian, X., Ma, X., et al. (2022). Measurement of China's Total Factor Energy Efficiency and Its Driving Factors. China Environmental Science, 42(5), 2453–2463.
[21] Gong, Q., Yue, Y., & Yin, S. (2025). Research on the Impact of New Productive Forces on Total Factor Energy Efficiency: From the Perspective of Industrial Structure Rationalization. Journal of Xi'an Shiyou University (Social Science Edition), 34(3), 21–30.
[22] He, Y., & Shi, L. (2025). Research on the Coupling and Coordination between Green Technological Innovation and Energy Utilization Efficiency. Journal of Guizhou Normal University, 41(5), 49–57.
[23] Xu, Z., Gao, Y., & Huo, Z. (2021). The Pollution Reduction Effect of Digital Finance. Finance and Economics, (4), 28–39.
[24] Wang, Y., Zhang, Y., & Li, J. (2022). Digital Finance and Carbon Emissions: A Study Based on Microdata and Machine Learning Models. China Population, Resources and Environment, 32(6), 1–11.
[25] Liu, Y., Xiong, R., Lv, S., et al. (2022). The impact of digital finance on green total factor energy efficiency: evidence at China’s city level. Energies, 15(15), 5455.
[26] Ouyang, J., Tang, K., Ren, H., et al. (2025). How Digitalization Empowers the Improvement of Regional Innovation Efficiency: Based on the Mechanism of Innovation Networks. Science and Technology Progress and Countermeasures, 42(2), 40–50.
[27] Wang, Q., & Wang, D. (2026). The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Urban Residents' Consumption and Its Spatial Spillover Effect: Empirical Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region. Journal of Soochow University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 47(2), 40–52.
[28] Liu, L., Ge, Y., & Ge, Q. (2024). How Does Digital Finance Improve Energy Efficiency? - Verification Based on Urban Panel Data. Technology and Finance, (3), 103–109.
[29] Liu, G., Li, Y., & Wang, K. (2024). Digital Finance and Green and Low-Carbon Energy Transition: Theoretical Mechanism and Policy Response. North China Finance, (12), 62–74.
[30] Wu, F., & Zheng, J. (2024). The Nonlinear Impact and Mechanism of Digital Finance on Agricultural Energy Carbon Emissions. Qinghai Finance, (6), 20–25.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Frontiers in Humanities and Social Sciences

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.






