全球数字经济发展能降低收入不平等吗?

Can the Development of the Global Digital Economy Reduce Income Inequality?

文章基于2013~2019年全球91个经济体的跨国样本,研究数字经济发展对一国收入不平等的影响。研究发现,全球数字经济发展有助于缓解收入不平等程度;数字技术和数字市场发展水平越高,越有利于缩小收入差距。进一步研究发现,数字经济的发展提高了中低收入群体的收入份额,从而有助于降低一国的收入不平等程度,数字经济在缓解收入不平等上表现出普惠性和包容性特征。机制研究发现,当一国的科技实力越高、教育机会越多、劳动参与率越高、金融发展越好时,数字经济发展对降低收入不平等的积极影响更为显著。

Based on a cross-country sample of91economies around the world from2013to2019, this paper studies the impact of digital economy development on a country′s income inequality. This paper finds that the development of the global digital economy can help alleviate income inequality in a country. The higher the level of development of digital technologies and digital markets, the more conducive it is to narrowing the income gap.Further, this paper finds that the development of the digital economy increases the income share of low-and middle-income groups, thereby helping to reduce the level of income inequality. The digital economy has shown inclusiveness in alleviating income inequality. Mechanism research shows that when a country has higher level of science and technology, more educational opportunities, higher labor participation rate, and better financial development, the development of the digital economy can significantly reduce income inequality.