Empowering Social Digital Governance through a Digital Economy Platform Integrating All County-Level Data: Mechanisms, Practical Challenges and Implementation Pathways —Taking X City as an Example

Abstract

This study focuses on the underlying mechanisms of county-level digital governance, taking X City in Yunnan Province as an example. Using data empowerment theory, collaborative governance theory and complex systems theory, it constructs a three dimensional analytical framework of “element aggregation-collaborative evolution-system resilience” to explore the enabling mechanism, practical dilemmas and implementation paths of the digital economy platform integrating county-level full-element data for social digital governance. This study reveals that X City has significantly improved government decision-making efficiency through full-element data aggregation. Simultaneously, in the process of collaborative evolution, governance subjects are evolving from “government-led” to “platform-driving” and “pluralistic balance”, and the algorithm power game will be the core issue in future governance. Moreover, building complex system resilience requires a shift from traditional “rigid defense” thinking to an adaptive governance model integrating culture, technology and institutions. Furthermore, due to some practical obstacles (e.g., quality loss) during the refinement of digital governance, some strategies, including establishing an algorithm power balance mechanism, cultivating complex system resilience and solving technology adaptability dilemmas, are proposed to solve these issues. To sum up, this study provides both theoretical support for county-level digital governance and useful references for digital governance practices in other regions.