Does the digital economy promote the high-quality development of urban-rural integration? experience analysis based on panel data of 30 provinces in China

Urban-rural integration (URI) is essential for promoting sustainable development. Scholars widely recognize the digital economy (DE) as a promising economic model that offers new opportunities to foster URI. The green development model sets forth higher standards for URI, shifting from the quantity of URI to the quality of URI. Therefore, this paper proposes a framework to assess the high-quality development of urban-rural integration (HQDURI) using data from China between 2007 and 2020. It further explores the effects of DE, which profoundly penetrates human society's production and life governance, on HQDURI. Findings indicate that while China has made initial strides in HQDURI, there remains significant room for growth. DE does not merely promote the HQDURI but also positively affects the high-quality development of urban-rural economic, ecological, and spatial integration. Moreover, the connection between DE and HQDURI is nonlinear. When the DE index exceeds a threshold, the positive effects become significant. However, many provinces in China have not yet reached this level. Based on the findings, giving the increasing importance of eco-friendly development, the government should not ignore the transition from URI to HQDURI. It is vital to accelerate DE growth and leverages its benefits.