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The Impact of Information Infrastructure on Air Pollution: Empirical Evidence from China

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  • Pei Zhang

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Peiran Chen

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Fan Xiao

    (Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Yong Sun

    (School of Public Administration, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China)

  • Shuyan Ma

    (School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Ziwei Zhao

    (School of Public Policy and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Information infrastructure construction has become an essential support for the new global technological revolution and industrial change. To examine whether information infrastructure can mitigate the level of air pollution, this paper measures the development level of information infrastructure in each region using the entropy-TOPSIS method based on the data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2020. On this basis, it explores the impact of information infrastructure on atmospheric pollution and its mechanism using spatial measures and mediating effects. The results show that: (1) Information infrastructure can effectively improve air quality, though its spatial spillover effect is not obvious. (2) In addition to directly reducing air pollution, information infrastructure can also improve air quality by influencing industrial structure upgrading, or by influencing technological innovation first and then industrial structure upgrading. By exploring the impact of information infrastructure on air pollution and its action path, this paper expects to provide some scientific reference value for the construction of information infrastructure under the background of the new global technological revolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Pei Zhang & Peiran Chen & Fan Xiao & Yong Sun & Shuyan Ma & Ziwei Zhao, 2022. "The Impact of Information Infrastructure on Air Pollution: Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:21:p:14351-:d:961378
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    Cited by:

    1. Bingquan Liu & Boyang Nie & Yakun Wang & Xuemin Han & Yongqing Li, 2023. "Does New Infrastructure Affect Regional Carbon Intensity? Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Hongmei Chen & Songlin Cai, 2023. "Research on Evaluation and Influencing Factors of Regional Digital Innovation Ecosystem Resilience—Empirical Research Based on Panel Data of 30 Provinces and Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Lianyan Fu & Luyang Zhang & Zihan Zhang, 2023. "The Impact of Information Infrastructure Construction on Carbon Emissions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Unzule Kurt & Cuneyt Kilic & Ahmet Tayfur Akcan, 2024. "Does Internet Use Affect Air Pollution? Evidence from OECD Countries," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(3), pages 235-246, May.
    5. Xin Zhang & Feng Xu, 2023. "Environmental Regulation and Spatial Spillover Effect of Green Technology Innovation: An Empirical Study on the Spatial Durbin Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-19, September.

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