Structural Evolution and Robustness of the Digital Economy Industrial Network: An Empirical Analysis based on Beijing’s Input-Output Tables

Abstract

Scientific identification of the internal linkage structures and evolutionary stability of the digital economy is pivotal for fostering high-quality industrial development. Based on Beijing’s input-output data from 2007 to 2020, this study reconstructs a longitudinal series of digital economy input-output sequences aligned with the Statistical Classification of the Digital Economy and Its Core Industries (2021). By integrating the IO-SNA approach with robustness simulation experiments, we systematically investigate the evolutionary trajectory of Beijing’s digital economy industrial network. The findings reveal three critical insights: First, the network exhibits prominent “small-world” characteristics; while the scale of linkages remained stable, the system achieved a significant efficiency leap, with global efficiency surging by 92.7% to signal a transition from extensive connectivity to deep integration. Second, the network is characterized by a “stable core and viscous periphery” pattern. Within this structure, the driving momentum has undergone a structural shift from hardware support to service empowerment, with the financial and business service sectors emerging as pivotal hubs. Third, the system demonstrates a distinct “robust yet fragile” nature. While highly resilient to random shocks, it remains extremely sensitive to the failure of core hub nodes. Notably, as collaborative efficiency improves, systemic risks increasingly aggregate within these hub sectors, creating a precarious balance of “high efficiency and high sensitivity”. These conclusions provide essential empirical evidence for identifying critical industrial risks and safeguarding the security of the digital economy industrial chain.