Structural Transformation and Governance Innovation of the Emotional Economy in the Digital Era

Abstract

With the rapid development of digitalization and artificial intelligence technologies, the emotional economy has increasingly become a major driving force behind global economic and social structural transformations. Emotional value is being amplified across various domains—such as digital platforms, online healthcare, live-streaming e-commerce, and virtual communities—reshaping production relations, consumer behavior, and patterns of social interaction. Grounded in multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks, this paper systematically reviews the historical evolution, core characteristics, and digital driving mechanisms of the emotional economy. It further analyzes its profound impacts on mental health, employment structures, social relationships, and cultural identity, and reveals its real-world manifestations through case studies of representative platforms and industries from both domestic and international contexts. The findings suggest that while the emotional economy significantly contributes to social welfare, industrial innovation, and inclusive development, it also poses a series of risks, including the alienation of emotional labor, privacy breaches, digital divides, algorithmic bias, and challenges in platform governance. The paper concludes by proposing collaborative governance strategies—such as digital literacy education, platform innovation, legal and policy advancement, and multi-stakeholder participation—to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the emotional economy and offer both theoretical insight and practical reference for the shared prosperity of digital society.