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<p>Can the digital economy narrow regional disparities in higher education? This study examines the impact of China’s digital economy on higher education quality and spatial distribution, focusing on its spillover effects and links to regional inequality. Using provincial panel data, we construct a multidimensional higher education quality index via the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and assess cross-regional spillover effects with spatial econometric models. The results reveal two key findings: (1) A 1% increase in the digital economy index drives a 0.457% rise in local higher education quality, with more pronounced effects in central-western regions and areas with scattered Double First-Class universities; (2) Positive spatial spillovers exist: a province’s digital economy development benefits neighboring regions’ higher education systems. We outline policy levers—such as digital integration, cross-regional resource sharing, and differentiated resource tilt—to unlock the digital economy’s potential in narrowing regional higher education gaps. These insights offer lessons for economies tackling educational inequality in the digital era.</p>

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Can the digital economy reduce regional inequality in China’s higher education? Evidence from spatial analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月10日

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  • Feifei Tan,
  • Yao Ma,
  • Zhiyuan Niu

摘要

Can the digital economy narrow regional disparities in higher education? This study examines the impact of China’s digital economy on higher education quality and spatial distribution, focusing on its spillover effects and links to regional inequality. Using provincial panel data, we construct a multidimensional higher education quality index via the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and assess cross-regional spillover effects with spatial econometric models. The results reveal two key findings: (1) A 1% increase in the digital economy index drives a 0.457% rise in local higher education quality, with more pronounced effects in central-western regions and areas with scattered Double First-Class universities; (2) Positive spatial spillovers exist: a province’s digital economy development benefits neighboring regions’ higher education systems. We outline policy levers—such as digital integration, cross-regional resource sharing, and differentiated resource tilt—to unlock the digital economy’s potential in narrowing regional higher education gaps. These insights offer lessons for economies tackling educational inequality in the digital era.