IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i17p12841-d1224561.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital Technology and Green Development in Manufacturing: Evidence from China and 20 Other Asian Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Zhu

    (School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
    International Business School, Zhejiang Yuexiu University, Shaoxing 312069, China)

  • Xiaoming Li

    (International Business School, Zhejiang Yuexiu University, Shaoxing 312069, China)

  • Yao Huang

    (International Business School, Zhejiang Yuexiu University, Shaoxing 312069, China)

  • Fangyuan Liu

    (Business School, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Chengji Yang

    (School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Dongyang Li

    (School of Sociology and Population Studies, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Hongpeng Bai

    (College of Intelligence and Computing, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

Abstract

The global interest in environmental protection and sustainable development has grown steadily in recent years, sparking widespread concern about green development in the manufacturing industry among governments, enterprises, and scholars around the world. Despite this heightened interest, research on the influence of the digital economy on the manufacturing industry’s green development remains scarce. This article analyzes the impact of the digital economy on the green development of the manufacturing industry and examines the role of human capital and trade competitiveness in this context. Using a two-way fixed-effects model of panel data analysis, we investigated the GTFP (Green Total Factor Productivity) of the Chinese manufacturing industry, as well as that of the overall industry and 20 other Asian countries along the “Belt and Road”. Our findings indicate a positive association between the digital economy and both the overall GTFP and the manufacturing GTFP in China. The countries situated along the Belt and Road experience a U-shaped trend in their GTFP due to the impact of the digital economy. The digital economy displays a delayed impact, and its eco-friendly value is realized, to different extents, after two sequential periods. In addition, human capital and trade competitiveness are threshold variables in the relationship between the digital economy and the green development of the manufacturing industry. When human capital exceeds a certain threshold and trade competitiveness exceeds a certain threshold, the digital economy has a positive effect on GTFP. This study offers unique insights into the impact of the digital economy on the green development of the manufacturing industry. By addressing this research gap, this study gives policymakers the ability to leverage these findings to promote sustainable practices across the industry. Ultimately, the valuable insights provided by this study may contribute to the ongoing efforts to advance the green development of the manufacturing industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Zhu & Xiaoming Li & Yao Huang & Fangyuan Liu & Chengji Yang & Dongyang Li & Hongpeng Bai, 2023. "Digital Technology and Green Development in Manufacturing: Evidence from China and 20 Other Asian Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-20, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12841-:d:1224561
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/12841/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/17/12841/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoli Hao & Xinhui Wang & Haitao Wu & Yu Hao, 2023. "Path to sustainable development: Does digital economy matter in manufacturing green total factor productivity?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(1), pages 360-378, February.
    2. Xiaoyan Li & Jia Liu & Peijie Ni, 2021. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on CO 2 Emissions: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Zihanxin Li & Nuoyan Li & Huwei Wen, 2021. "Digital Economy and Environmental Quality: Evidence from 217 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Yongquan Zhao & Ziwei Zhang, 2023. "Distribution of Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity of Green Total-Factor Productivity in the Chinese Manufacturing Industry, and the Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Gruber, Harald, 2019. "Proposals for a digital industrial policy for Europe," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 116-127.
    6. Visser, Robin, 2019. "The effect of the internet on the margins of trade," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 41-54.
    7. Jinqi Su & Ke Su & Shubin Wang, 2021. "Does the Digital Economy Promote Industrial Structural Upgrading?—A Test of Mediating Effects Based on Heterogeneous Technological Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Chaofan Chen & Qingxin Lan & Ming Gao & Yawen Sun, 2018. "Green Total Factor Productivity Growth and Its Determinants in China’s Industrial Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-25, April.
    9. Pan, Wenrong & Xie, Tao & Wang, Zhuwang & Ma, Lisha, 2022. "Digital economy: An innovation driver for total factor productivity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 303-311.
    10. Fukuyama, Hirofumi & Weber, William L., 2009. "A directional slacks-based measure of technical inefficiency," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 274-287, December.
    11. Lu, Qinli & Fang, Kai & Heijungs, Reinout & Feng, Kuishuang & Li, Jiashuo & Wen, Qi & Li, Yanmei & Huang, Xianjin, 2020. "Imbalance and drivers of carbon emissions embodied in trade along the Belt and Road Initiative," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    12. Haoguang Liang & Yaojun Zhang, 2019. "The Theoretical System of Belt and Road Initiative," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-981-13-7701-3, December.
    13. repec:ers:journl:v:volumexxi:y:2018:i:issue4:p:470-479 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Muhammad Hafeez & Chunhui Yuan & Issam Khelfaoui & Almalki Sultan Musaad O & Muhammad Waqas Akbar & Liu Jie, 2019. "Evaluating the Energy Consumption Inequalities in the One Belt and One Road Region: Implications for the Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, April.
    15. Song, Malin & Du, Juntao & Tan, Kim Hua, 2018. "Impact of fiscal decentralization on green total factor productivity," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 359-367.
    16. Zhenlong Miao, 2021. "Digital economy value chain: concept, model structure, and mechanism," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(37), pages 4342-4357, August.
    17. Yang Liu & Yanlin Yang & Huihui Li & Kaiyang Zhong, 2022. "Digital Economy Development, Industrial Structure Upgrading and Green Total Factor Productivity: Empirical Evidence from China’s Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    18. A.L. Poltarykhin & A.E. Alekseev & V.V. Kudryavtsev & T.A. Makhanova & O.Yu. Voronkova & H.T. Aydinov, 2018. "Prospects for the Development of the Green Economy of Russian Federation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 470-479.
    19. Mingliang Zhao & Fangyi Liu & Wei Sun & Xin Tao, 2020. "The Relationship between Environmental Regulation and Green Total Factor Productivity in China: An Empirical Study Based on the Panel Data of 177 Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.
    20. Tone, Kaoru, 2001. "A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(3), pages 498-509, May.
    21. A. G. Boev, 2020. "The contents and peculiarities of the process of institutional transformation of industrial complexes in a digital economy," Russian Journal of Industrial Economics, MISIS, vol. 13(1).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Junwei Zhao & Yuxiang Zhang & Anhang Chen & Huiqin Zhang, 2022. "Analysis on the Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics of the Impact of China’s Digitalization Process on Green Total Factor Productivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-21, November.
    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. Liu, Zuankuo & Xin, Li, 2019. "Has China's Belt and Road Initiative promoted its green total factor productivity？——Evidence from primary provinces along the route," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 360-369.
    4. Huaxue Zhao & Yu Cheng & Ruijing Zheng, 2022. "Impact of the Digital Economy on PM 2.5 : Experience from the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River Basin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.
    5. Kai Yuan & Biao Hu & Xinlong Li & Tingyun Niu & Liang Zhang, 2023. "Exploration of Coupling Effects in the Digital Economy and Eco-Economic System Resilience in Urban Areas: Case Study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Guo, Bingnan & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Hao & Liang, Chunyan & Feng, Yu & Hu, Feng, 2023. "Impact of the digital economy on high-quality urban economic development: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. Yuqi Zhu & Siwei Shen & Linyu Du & Jun Fu & Jian Zou & Lina Peng & Rui Ding, 2023. "Spatial and Temporal Interaction Coupling of Digital Economy, New-Type Urbanization and Land Ecology and Spatial Effects Identification: A Study of the Yangtze River Delta," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-27, March.
    8. Bo Li & Jing Liu & Qian Liu & Muhammad Mohiuddin, 2022. "The Effects of Broadband Infrastructure on Carbon Emission Efficiency of Resource-Based Cities in China: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the “Broadband China” Pilot Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-27, May.
    9. Meiling Wang & Silu Pang & Ikram Hmani & Ilham Hmani & Cunfang Li & Zhengxia He, 2021. "Towards sustainable development: How does technological innovation drive the increase in green total factor productivity?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 217-227, January.
    10. Yuxin Fang & Hongjun Cao & Jihui Sun, 2022. "Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Regional Green Development under China’s Environmental Decentralization System—Based on Spatial Durbin Model and Threshold Effect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-27, November.
    11. Lv, Chengchao & Song, Jie & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "Can digital finance narrow the regional disparities in the quality of economic growth? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 502-521.
    12. Songqin Zhao & Diyun Peng & Huwei Wen & Huilin Song, 2022. "Does the Digital Economy Promote Upgrading the Industrial Structure of Chinese Cities?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    13. Hong Tang & Chaoyue Cai & Chunxiao Xu, 2022. "Does the Digital Economy Improve Urban Tourism Development? An Examination of the Chinese Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    14. Xinfeng Chang & Jian Su & Zihe Yang, 2022. "The Effect of Digital Economy on Urban Green Transformation—An Empirical Study Based on the Yangtze River Delta City Cluster in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    15. Guangzhi Qi & Zhibao Wang & Zhixiu Wang & Lijie Wei, 2022. "Has Industrial Upgrading Improved Air Pollution?—Evidence from China’s Digital Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    16. Xi Zhang & Rui Li & Jinglei Zhang, 2022. "Understanding the Green Total Factor Productivity of Manufacturing Industry in China: Analysis Based on the Super-SBM Model with Undesirable Outputs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.
    17. Xie, Ronghui & Teo, Thompson S.H., 2022. "Green technology innovation, environmental externality, and the cleaner upgrading of industrial structure in China — Considering the moderating effect of environmental regulation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    18. Song, Malin & Zhu, Shuai & Wang, Jianlin & Zhao, Jiajia, 2020. "Share green growth: Regional evaluation of green output performance in China," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 152-163.
    19. Fengyu Zhao & Ziqing Xu & Xiaowen Xie, 2024. "Exploring the Role of Digital Economy in Enhanced Green Productivity in China’s Manufacturing Sector: Fresh Evidence for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    20. Qingyan Zhu, 2023. "How Will the Relationship between Technological Innovation and Green Total Factor Productivity Change under the Influence of Service-Oriented Upgrading of Industrial Structure?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.

    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:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:17:p:12841-:d:1224561. 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.