Can the digital economy address the loss of green development efficiency due to resource mismatch? Evidence from China’s land transaction markets

Land is the driving force of economic growth, but the proliferation of industrial land has resulted in wasted land resources, impaired economic efficiency, and ecological damage in China. Currently, the digital economy is transforming China’s economic growth model. Exploring the corrective mechanisms of the digital economy for land resource mismatch can contribute to efficient economic growth. Using a sample of Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2007–2019, we employ a spatial Durbin model to explore the impact of land resource mismatch on green development efficiency (GDE) in the context of the digital economy, which is critical to rational planning, utilization, and regulation of land resources. The findings show that (1) land resource mismatch inhibits GDE, and the crowding-out, structural inhibition, and agglomeration economy dilution effect are primary influencing mechanisms. (2) A local land resource mismatch harms GDE in neighboring areas. (3) The digital economy has a positive moderating effect on land resource mismatch and GDE. (4) Land resource mismatch reduces GDE in the eastern and central regions; the moderating effect of the digital economy exists only in the eastern region. Finally, this study proposes comprehensive and complete countermeasures to correct the land resource mismatch and its influence channels and enhance the construction of the digital economy. The conclusions of this study provide specific theoretical contributions to promote the spatial allocation efficiency of land resources, promote green and efficient economic development, and stimulate and release the dividends of the digital economy.