Energy Strategy for Sustainable Development of Rural Areas Based on the Analysis of Sustainable Digital Economy

Abstract

Technology has played a vital role in modifying the lifestyle of individuals and the emerging countries are progressing so fast as no one has ever thought before. With the progression of technology boosting, the pattern of energy resources consumption has also been the center of attention for researchers in this decade. China has been one of those countries that have adopted such energy strategies in its industrial regime. The economists and information technology (IT) working together have done wonders in digitalizing and sustaining the economies that will lead to sustainable development goals. This study has been an effort to understand the role of technology and the availability of affordable energy resources in obtaining a sustainable digital economy with the mediating role of sustainable development. The population of this study was IT professionals and economists. The survey data were collected from 285 respondents selected based on purposive sampling. The software adopted for data analysis was SmartPLS 3.3.3. This study showed that technology utilization had been an important predictor of sustainable development, contributing to a sustainable digital economy. Similarly, low operational cost also moderated the relationship of sustainable development and sustainable digital economy that has been the major focus of developing countries. Moreover, the strategy of cutting down the operation costs to bring it down to the level of affordability is a major challenge for the economies such as China that have been among the low production cost. Studies on the sustainable digital economy with respect to technological use are very limited. Hence, this study will find many advantages for economists and IT professionals in the future with respect to devising the strategies taking into account the sustainable development goals and the achievement of a sustainable digital economy.