<?xml version="1.1" encoding="utf-8"?>
<article xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="http://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.1/xsd/JATS-journalpublishing1-mathml3.xsd" dtd-version="1.1" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">erd</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Education Reform and Development</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn>2652-5364</issn><eissn>2652-5372</eissn><publisher><publisher-name>Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.26689/erd.v7i9.12407</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title>Research on the Reconstruction of the Elderly’s Role from Passive Acceptance to Active Innovation in the Digital Silver Economy of China’s Megalopolises: A Case Study of Chengdu</title><url>https://artdesignp.com/journal/erd/7/9/10.26689/erd.v7i9.12407</url><author>ZhuWei,HouShiling,YangYang</author><pub-date pub-type="publication-year"><year>2025</year></pub-date><volume>7</volume><issue>9</issue><history><date date-type="pub"><published-time>2025-10-21</published-time></date></history><abstract>This study focuses on the transformation process and reconstruction mechanism of the role of the elderly group in Chengdu under the background of the digital silver economy in China’s megalopolises. With the acceleration of population aging and the rapid development of digital technology, the silver economy has become increasingly prominent in the economy of urban agglomerations. Taking Chengdu as an example, this paper adopts a mixed research method, including questionnaire survey, in-depth interview, and case analysis, to explore the transformation process of the elderly group from passively accepting digital technology to actively participating in innovation. The study finds that the role reconstruction of the elderly group in Chengdu in the digital silver economy is mainly reflected in the following aspects: (1) The improvement of digital literacy promotes the transformation of the elderly from technology users to innovation participants; (2) The improvement of social support networks promotes the integration of the elderly into the digital economic ecology; (3) Policy guidance and market driving jointly promote the release of the innovative ability of the elderly group. Based on the research results, this paper puts forward policy suggestions to promote the role reconstruction of the elderly group, including improving the digital technology education system, building an elderly-friendly digital environment, and encouraging the elderly to innovate and start businesses. This research provides a new perspective and empirical basis for understanding and promoting the development of the digital silver economy in megalopolises, and is of great significance for promoting the active participation of the elderly group in the digital economy and realizing the sustainable development of urban agglomerations.</abstract><keywords/></article-meta></front><body/><back><ref-list><ref id="B1" content-type="article"><label>1</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Qiu W, 2024, Digital Economy Empowering Consumption Growth of the Elderly Population – An Analysis Based on the Moderating Effect of the Silver Economy. Journal of Commercial Economics, 2024(6): 76–79.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B2" content-type="article"><label>2</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Mingyang L, Panyu P, Hao Z, et al., 2024, Exploring the Equitable Spatial Planning on the Accessibility of Institutional Elderly Care in Megacities: A Study Based on Chengdu, China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 117.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B3" content-type="article"><label>3</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Zhang B, 2019, Smart Community Elderly Care Service Model from the Perspective of “Internet+”. Contemporary Economic Management, 41(6): 45–50.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B4" content-type="article"><label>4</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Li C, 2021, Comprehensive Measurement of “Aging-friendly” Level in Megacities and Analysis of Influencing Factors – A Case Study of Shanghai. Urban Problems, 2021(11): 4–18.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B5" content-type="article"><label>5</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Liang H, 2025, Lifestyle Transition: Practical Logic from Digital Technology Embedding to Smart Elderly Care Adaptation. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology (Social Sciences Edition), 27(1): 74–81.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B6" content-type="article"><label>6</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Du P, Wang F, 2025, Empowering the Silver Economy Development with New Productive Forces. Beijing Social Sciences, 2025(1): 109–119.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B7" content-type="article"><label>7</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Sun X, 2024, Problems and Optimization Paths of Home and Community Elderly Care Services in Megacities. China National Conditions and Strength, 2024(12): 13–17.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B8" content-type="article"><label>8</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Zhang Y, Tan M, Luo X, et al., 2023, Research on the Practical Model and Optimization Path of Integrating Medical and Elderly Care Services in Megacity Communities. Health Economics Research, 40(8): 16–20.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B9" content-type="article"><label>9</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Jiao Y, 2023, Research on Improving China’s Community Home-based Elderly Care Service System in the New Era, thesis, Jilin University.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B10" content-type="article"><label>10</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Ma Y, 2022, Promoting the Integrated Development of Digital Economy and Silver Economy. Macroeconomic Management, 2022(3): 56–62.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B11" content-type="article"><label>11</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Gong Y, Zhou L, Sun D, et al., 2023, Measurement and Analysis of Green Belt Fragmentation and Connectivity in China’s Megacities from a Resilience Perspective – A Case Study of Beijing, Xi’an and Chengdu. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 43(7): 1195–1205.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B12" content-type="article"><label>12</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Xie X, Ren S, 2022, Agile Governance-driven Megacity Governance in the Digital Economy Era–Empirical Evidence from Smart City Construction in Chengdu. Urban Problems, 2022(2): 86–95.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>
