IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i22p10030-d1522916.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital Government Construction and Provincial Green Innovation Efficiency: Empirical Analysis Based on Institutional Environment in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jinjie Li

    (School of Public Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066000, China)

  • Wenlong Lou

    (School of Public Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066000, China
    Key Research Bases of Humanities and Social Sciences for Universities in Hebei Province—Yanshan University County Area Revitalization Development Policy Research Centre, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066000, China)

Abstract

Green innovation provides powerful incentives to achieve sustained social progress. However, the available research examines the financial drivers of green innovation, overlooking the impact of digital government development and the institutional environment. The integration of digital government construction with the institutional environment, and the coupling of the two with green innovation, will paint a picture of the future that promotes sustainable social progress and the modernization of governance. This research utilizes data from 31 provinces in China from 2018 to 2022 to study the impact of digital government construction and the institutional environment on the provincial green innovation efficiency. An empirical analysis is conducted on the basis of analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution and pattern of digital government construction, the institutional environment and the provincial green innovation efficiency. Firstly, digital government construction emphasizes data openness and sharing, and data become a key link between those inside and outside the government. The digital platform becomes an important carrier connecting the government and multiple subjects in collaborative innovation to continuously shape a new digital governance ecology. The netting of digital ecology is conducive to the institutional environment, serving to break the path dependence and create a more open, inclusive and synergistic institutional environment. Based on this, we consider that digital government construction positively affects the institutional environment, and this is verified. Secondly, a good government–market relationship, mature market development, a large market service scale, a complete property rights system and a fair legal system brought about by the improved institutional environment provide macro-external environmental support for enhanced innovation dynamics. Based on this, it is proposed that the institutional environment positively affects the provincial green innovation efficiency. Meanwhile, building on embeddedness theory, the industrial embeddedness of the institutional environment for green innovation highlights the scattered distribution of innovation components. Geographical embeddedness stresses indigenous resource distribution grounded in space vicinity and clustering. The better the institutional environment, the greater the forces of disempowerment at the industrial tier and the easier it is for resources to flow out. This may potentially have a detrimental role in improving the local green innovation efficiency. In view of this, it is proposed that the institutional environment negatively affects the provincial green innovation efficiency, and this is verified. Thirdly, digital government construction, as an important aspect of constructing a digital governance system and implementing the strategy of a strong network state, can effectively release the multiplier effect of digital technology in ecological environment governance and green innovation, continuously enhancing the provincial green innovation efficiency. In view of this, it is proposed that digital government construction positively affects the provincial green innovation efficiency, and this is verified. When the institutional environment is used as a mediating variable, digital government construction will have a certain non-linear impact in terms of provincial green innovation efficiency improvement. Building on the evidence-based analysis results, it is found that the institutional environment plays a competitive mediating role. This study integrates digital government construction, the institutional environment and the provincial green innovation efficiency under a unified analytical structure, offering theoretical inspiration and operational directions to enhance the provincial green innovation efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinjie Li & Wenlong Lou, 2024. "Digital Government Construction and Provincial Green Innovation Efficiency: Empirical Analysis Based on Institutional Environment in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-34, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:22:p:10030-:d:1522916
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/10030/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/22/10030/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gould, David M. & Gruben, William C., 1996. "The role of intellectual property rights in economic growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 323-350, March.
    2. Samuel Adomako & Mai Dong Tran, 2022. "Local embeddedness, and corporate social performance: The mediating role of social innovation orientation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(2), pages 329-338, March.
    3. Jiafeng Gu, 2021. "Spatiotemporal context and firm performance: The mediating effect of strategic interaction," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 371-391, March.
    4. Shaojian Chen & Hui Mao & Junqin Sun, 2022. "Low-Carbon City Construction and Corporate Carbon Reduction Performance: Evidence From a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 125-143, September.
    5. Donbesuur, Francis & Ampong, George Oppong Appiagyei & Owusu-Yirenkyi, Diana & Chu, Irene, 2020. "Technological innovation, organizational innovation and international performance of SMEs: The moderating role of domestic institutional environment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Edinaldo Tebaldi & Bruce Elmslie, 2013. "Does institutional quality impact innovation? Evidence from cross-country patent grant data," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(7), pages 887-900, March.
    7. Huixin Lu & Zongxian Feng & Shi Wang, 2024. "The Impact of Economic Openness and Institutional Environment on Technological Innovation: Evidence From China’s Provincial Patent Application Data," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    8. Maskus, Keith E. & Penubarti, Mohan, 1995. "How trade-related are intellectual property rights?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(3-4), pages 227-248, November.
    9. Gopalakrishnan, Shanthi & Zhang, Haisu, 2019. "Client dependence: A boon or bane for vendor innovation? A competitive mediation framework in IT outsourcing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 407-416.
    10. Yang, Yan & Wang, Yuqian & Qi, Chengzan, 2023. "The guiding effect of economic stimulus plan on corporate investment behavior in heterogeneous institutional environment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    11. Adam Hoffer & Brad R. Humphreys & Jane E. Ruseski, 2019. "State cigarette taxes and health expenditures: Evidence from dynamic spatial lag panel models," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 98(2), pages 925-950, April.
    12. Gerardo Quinones & Richard Heeks & Brian Nicholson, 2021. "Embeddedness of digital start-ups in development contexts: field experience from Latin America," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 171-190, April.
    13. J. Ramon Gil-Garcia & Sharon S. Dawes & Theresa A. Pardo, 2018. "Digital government and public management research: finding the crossroads," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(5), pages 633-646, May.
    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. Park, Walter G., 1997. "A note on innovation and patent protection: Intertemporal imitation-risk smoothing," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 185-189, February.
    2. Elif Bascavusoglu & Maria Pluvia Zuniga, 2005. "The effects of intellectual property protection on international knowledge contracting," Cahiers de la Maison des Sciences Economiques bla05009, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1).
    3. Josh Lerner, 2002. "150 Years of Patent Protection," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(2), pages 221-225, May.
    4. Gideon Ndubuisi, 2024. "Patent Enforcement and Quality Upgrading of Exported Products," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 13979-14011, September.
    5. Gino A.Gancia, 2003. "Globalization, Divergence and Stagnation," Development Working Papers 174, Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano, University of Milano.
    6. Simplice A. Asongu & Antonio R. Andrés, 2017. "The impact of software piracy on inclusive human development: evidence from Africa," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 585-607, September.
    7. Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Global Software Piracy, Technology and Property Rights Institutions," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1036-1063, September.
    8. Edwin L Lai, 2004. "The Economics of Intellectual Property Protection in the Global Economy," Levine's Working Paper Archive 122247000000000481, David K. Levine.
    9. Simplice Asongu, 2014. "Software piracy, inequality and the poor: evidence from Africa," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(4), pages 526-553, July.
    10. Anja, Breitwieser & Neil, Foster, 2012. "Intellectual property rights, innovation and technology transfer: a survey," MPRA Paper 36094, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Asongu Simplice & Andrés Antonio, 2014. "Global trajectories, dynamics, and tendencies of business software piracy: benchmarking IPRs harmonization," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 14/011, African Governance and Development Institute..
    12. Simplice A. Asongu & Pritam Singh & Sara Le Roux, 2018. "Fighting Software Piracy: Some Global Conditional Policy Instruments," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 175-189, September.
    13. Kanwar, Sunil, 2007. "Intellectual Property Protection and Technology Transfer: Evidence From US Multinationals," University of California at San Diego, Economics Working Paper Series qt606508js, Department of Economics, UC San Diego.
    14. Simplice A. Asongu & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2018. "Determinants of Property Rights Protection in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 9(4), pages 1291-1308, December.
    15. Sumner J. La Croix & Denise Eby Konan, 2002. "Intellectual Property Rights in China: The Changing Political Economy of Chinese–American Interests," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 759-788, June.
    16. Simplice A. Asongu, 2014. "Software Piracy and Scientific Publications: Knowledge Economy Evidence from Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 26(4), pages 572-583, December.
    17. Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Doytch, Nadia, 2022. "The impact of ICT patents on economic growth: An international evidence," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    18. Bachar Moussa & Nikos C. Varsakelis, 2022. "Causality Between International Trade and International Patenting: A Combination of Network Analysis and Granger Causality," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 50(1), pages 9-26, June.
    19. de Rassenfosse, Gaétan & Grazzi, Marco & Moschella, Daniele & Pellegrino, Gabriele, 2022. "International patent protection and trade: Transaction-level evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    20. Campi, Mercedes & Dueñas, Marco, 2016. "Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade of Agricultural Products," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1-18.

    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:16:y:2024:i:22:p:10030-:d:1522916. 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.