数字经济发展是否会影响收入不平等?——基于空间面板模型的实证检验

Does the Digital Economy Affect Income Inequality?——An Empirical Test Based on Spatial Panel Models

数字经济快速发展,数据要素不断深化与其他生产要素的协同联动机制,将对收入分配格局产生深远的影响。本文从数字基础设施建设、数字产业化、产业数字化等维度,深度剖析数字经济对我国收入分配的影响机理,基于2013—2019年中国省级面板数据,测算收入基尼系数,采用空间计量模型实证检验数字经济对收入不平等的影响及其空间溢出效应。研究发现:中国地区间的数字经济发展和收入分配具有空间相关性;数字经济的发展会显著加深收入不平等程度;数字经济的发展对收入分配的影响不仅体现为对本地区的影响,而且通过空间外溢效应扩大周边区域的收入差距;中国区域间数字经济的收入分配影响效应空间异质性突出,东部地区和西部地区数字经济的发展会显著拉大收入差距,数字经济发展会在一定程度上改善中部地区的收入不平等。基于所得实证结果,为缩小数字经济时代的收入差距,本文提出要加强平台监管与反垄断规制、调整和改革现有劳动保障制度、完善数字化职业技能培训制度、推进和完善落后地区及农村地区的数字基础设施建设、构建东中西部数字经济发展协作机制等政策建议。

The rapid development of the digital economy and the continuous deepening of the synergistic linkage mechanism between data elements and other factors of production will have a profound impact on the pattern of income distribution.This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of the impact of digital economy on income distribution in China from the dimensions of digital infrastructure construction, digital industrialization and industrial digitization.Using Gini coefficient to measure income inequality, and empirically tests the impact of digital economy on income inequality and its spatial spillover effect applying a spatial econometric model based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2013—2019.It is found that: the development of digital economy and income distribution among Chinese regions are spatially correlated;the development of digital economy significantly deepens income inequality;the impact of the development of digital economy on income distribution is not only reflected in the impact on the local region, but also expands the income gap in the surrounding regions through spatial spillover effects;the spatial heterogeneity of the impact of digital economy on income distribution among Chinese regions is prominent, the development of digital economy in the eastern and western regions will significantly widen the income gap, and digital economy will reduce the income inequality in the central region to some extent.Generally, in order to narrow the income gap in the era of digital economy, this paper provides some policy suggestions as below: strengthen platform regulation and anti-monopoly regulation, adjust and reform the existing labor security system, improve vocational digital skills training system, promote the construction of digital infrastructure in backward regions and rural areas, and build a collaborative mechanism for the development of digital economy in the east, central and west regions in China.