IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i23p16351-d995038.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Big Data Affect Urban Low-Carbon Transformation—A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China

Author

Listed:
  • Ning Xu

    (School of Political Science and Public Administration, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China)

  • He Zhang

    (State Information Center, Beijing 100045, China)

  • Tixin Li

    (School of Economics and Management, Kunming University, Kunming 650214, China)

  • Xiao Ling

    (School of Business, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China)

  • Qian Shen

    (Finance Department, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou 510320, China)

Abstract

As a new factor of production, data play a key role in driving low-carbon and sustainable development relying on the digital economy. However, previous studies have ignored this point. Based on the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2007 to 2019, we investigated the construction of national big data comprehensive pilot zones (NBDCPZs) in China as a quasi-natural experiment, using the difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically test the impact of NBDCPZ policies on urban low-carbon transformation. The following conclusions can be drawn: NBDCPZ construction significantly promotes urban low-carbon transformation, and a series of robustness analysis supports this conclusion. NBDCPZ constructions mainly promotes urban low-carbon transformation by stimulating urban green innovation and optimizing the allocation of urban resource elements. Compared with eastern cities, small and medium-sized cities, and resource-based cities, the construction of NBDCPZs can promote the low-carbon transformation of cities in central and western China, large cities, and non-resource-based cities. Further analysis shows that the construction of NBDCPZs can only improve the low-carbon transformation of local cities, with negative spatial spillover effects on the low-carbon transformation of surrounding cities. Therefore, in the future, it is vital to consider the promotion effect of the construction of NBDCPZs on the low-carbon transformation of local cities and prevent its negative impact on the low-carbon transformation of surrounding cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ning Xu & He Zhang & Tixin Li & Xiao Ling & Qian Shen, 2022. "How Big Data Affect Urban Low-Carbon Transformation—A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16351-:d:995038
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/16351/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/23/16351/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leviäkangas, Pekka & Molarius, Riitta, 2020. "Open government data policy and value added - Evidence on transport safety agency case," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Fang, Guochang & Gao, Zhengye & Tian, Lixin & Fu, Min, 2022. "What drives urban carbon emission efficiency? – Spatial analysis based on nighttime light data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    3. Tone, Kaoru & Tsutsui, Miki, 2010. "An epsilon-based measure of efficiency in DEA - A third pole of technical efficiency," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 207(3), pages 1554-1563, December.
    4. Ma, Dan & Zhu, Qing, 2022. "Innovation in emerging economies: Research on the digital economy driving high-quality green development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 801-813.
    5. Ghasemaghaei, Maryam & Calic, Goran, 2020. "Assessing the impact of big data on firm innovation performance: Big data is not always better data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 147-162.
    6. Tang, Chang & Xu, Yuanyuan & Hao, Yu & Wu, Haitao & Xue, Yan, 2021. "What is the role of telecommunications infrastructure construction in green technology innovation? A firm-level analysis for China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    7. Meng, Fanyi & Su, Bin & Thomson, Elspeth & Zhou, Dequn & Zhou, P., 2016. "Measuring China’s regional energy and carbon emission efficiency with DEA models: A survey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1-21.
    8. James P. LeSage & R. Kelley Pace, 2008. "Spatial Econometric Modeling Of Origin‐Destination Flows," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(5), pages 941-967, December.
    9. Xu, Le & Fan, Meiting & Yang, Lili & Shao, Shuai, 2021. "Heterogeneous green innovations and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Xueyang Wang & Xiumei Sun & Haotian Zhang & Chaokai Xue, 2022. "Digital Economy Development and Urban Green Innovation CA-Pability: Based on Panel Data of 274 Prefecture-Level Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, March.
    11. Yu, Yantuan & Zhang, Ning, 2021. "Low-carbon city pilot and carbon emission efficiency: Quasi-experimental evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    12. Charles I. Jones & Christopher Tonetti, 2020. "Nonrivalry and the Economics of Data," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2819-2858, September.
    13. Feng, Rui & Shen, Chen & Huang, Liangxiong & Tang, Xuan, 2022. "Does trade in services improve carbon efficiency? —Analysis based on international panel data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    14. Wu, Haitao & Xue, Yan & Hao, Yu & Ren, Siyu, 2021. "How does internet development affect energy-saving and emission reduction? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    15. Le Sun & Congmou Zhu & Shaofeng Yuan & Lixia Yang & Shan He & Wuyan Li, 2022. "Exploring the Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Carbon Emission Performance in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    16. Thorsten Beck & Ross Levine & Alexey Levkov, 2010. "Big Bad Banks? The Winners and Losers from Bank Deregulation in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(5), pages 1637-1667, October.
    17. Zhang, Wei & Liu, Xuemeng & Wang, Die & Zhou, Jianping, 2022. "Digital economy and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    18. Ping Chen & Jiawei Gao & Zheng Ji & Han Liang & Yu Peng, 2022. "Do Artificial Intelligence Applications Affect Carbon Emission Performance?—Evidence from Panel Data Analysis of Chinese Cities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, August.
    19. Cong Wei & Jiayang Kong, 2022. "The Effect of Innovation City Construction on Carbon Emissions in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    20. Ning Xu & Desen Zhao & Wenjie Zhang & He Zhang & Wanxu Chen & Min Ji & Ming Liu, 2022. "Innovation-Driven Development and Urban Land Low-Carbon Use Efficiency: A Policy Assessment from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, September.
    21. Amri, Fethi & Zaied, Younes Ben & Lahouel, Bechir Ben, 2019. "ICT, total factor productivity, and carbon dioxide emissions in Tunisia," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 212-217.
    22. Zhuoxi Yu & Shan Liu & Zhichuan Zhu, 2022. "Has the Digital Economy Reduced Carbon Emissions?: Analysis Based on Panel Data of 278 Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-18, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ziyu Meng & Wen-Bo Li & Chaofan Chen & Chenghua Guan, 2023. "Carbon Emission Reduction Effects of the Digital Economy: Mechanisms and Evidence from 282 Cities in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Peng, Yue & Wang, Wei & Zhen, Shangsong & Liu, Yunqiang, 2024. "Does digitalization help green consumption? Empirical test based on the perspective of supply and demand of green products," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Kunpeng Ai & Ning Xu, 2023. "Does Regional Integration Improve Carbon Emission Performance?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment on Regional Integration in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Kunpeng Ai & Honghe Li & Wenjie Zhang & Xiang-Wu Yan, 2024. "Digital Economy and Green and Low-Carbon Transformation of Land Use: Spatial Effects and Moderating Mechanisms," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-28, July.
    5. Honghe Li & Xiaotian Du & Xiang-Wu Yan & Ning Xu, 2024. "Digital Transformation and Urban Green Development: Evidence from China’s Data Factor Marketization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-21, May.
    6. Yi Chen & Yinrong Chen & Kun Chen & Min Liu, 2023. "Research Progress and Hotspot Analysis of Residential Carbon Emissions Based on CiteSpace Software," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Kunpeng Ai & Wenjie Zhang & Xiang-Wu Yan, 2024. "Digital Economy and Urban Low-Carbon Transition: Theoretical Model and New Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-22, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhu, Qing & Ma, Dan & He, Xin, 2023. "Digital transformation and firms' pollution emissions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    2. Shunbin Zhong & Huafu Shen & Ziheng Niu & Yang Yu & Lin Pan & Yaojun Fan & Atif Jahanger, 2022. "Moving towards Environmental Sustainability: Can Digital Economy Reduce Environmental Degradation in China?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-23, November.
    3. Pan, Minjie & Zhao, Xin & lv, Kangjuan & Rosak-Szyrocka, Joanna & Mentel, Grzegorz & Truskolaski, Tadeusz, 2023. "Internet development and carbon emission-reduction in the era of digitalization: Where will resource-based cities go?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Ning Xu & Desen Zhao & Wenjie Zhang & He Zhang & Wanxu Chen & Min Ji & Ming Liu, 2022. "Innovation-Driven Development and Urban Land Low-Carbon Use Efficiency: A Policy Assessment from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Xiao Ling & Yue Gao & Guoyong Wu, 2023. "How Does Intensive Land Use Affect Low-Carbon Transition in China? New Evidence from the Spatial Econometric Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-26, August.
    6. Zhang, Wei & Liu, Xuemeng & Wang, Die & Zhou, Jianping, 2022. "Digital economy and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    7. Nie, Song, 2024. "Does intellectual property rights protection matter for low-carbon transition? The role of institutional incentives," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    8. Xuan Chang & Jinye Li, 2022. "Effects of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions in China: A Spatial Durbin Econometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Sainan Cheng & Guohua Qu, 2023. "Research on the Effect of Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions under the Background of “Double Carbon”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-27, March.
    10. Wang, Ke-Liang & Sun, Ting-Ting & Xu, Ru-Yu & Miao, Zhuang & Cheng, Yun-He, 2022. "How does internet development promote urban green innovation efficiency? Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    11. Chen, Lifeng & Wang, Kaifeng, 2022. "The spatial spillover effect of low-carbon city pilot scheme on green efficiency in China's cities: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    12. Desheng Yu & Lihua Yang & Yuping Xu, 2022. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on High-Quality Development: An Analysis Based on the National Big Data Comprehensive Test Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
    13. Pingguo Xu & Leyi Chen & Huajuan Dai, 2022. "Pathways to Sustainable Development: Corporate Digital Transformation and Environmental Performance in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    14. Jie Li & Zhengchuan Sun & Jie Zhou & Yaya Sow & Xufeng Cui & Haipeng Chen & Qianling Shen, 2023. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions from Cultivated Land Use," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Du, Zhili & Wang, Yao, 2022. "Does energy-saving and emission reduction policy affects carbon reduction performance? A quasi-experimental evidence in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    16. Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2022. "Assessing the digital economy and its carbon-mitigation effects: The case of China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    17. Zhao, Ziyi & Zhao, Yuhuan & Shi, Xunpeng & Zheng, Lu & Fan, Shunan & Zuo, Sumin, 2024. "Green innovation and carbon emission performance: The role of digital economy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    18. Luo, Yusen & Lu, Zhengnan & Wu, Chao, 2023. "Can internet development accelerate the green innovation efficiency convergence: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    19. Chen, Jing & Lv, Yanqin & Gao, Feng, 2024. "Exploring the relationship between digital infrastructure and carbon emission efficiency: New insights from the resource curse and green technology innovation in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    20. Du, Xiaoyun & Meng, Conghui & Guo, Zhenhua & Yan, Hang, 2023. "An improved approach for measuring the efficiency of low carbon city practice in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16351-:d:995038. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.