IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i2p773-d1570818.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Intelligent Manufacturing and Pollution Emissions from Chinese Manufacturing Firms: Theories and Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Shurong Zi

    (Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
    These anthers contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ziyuan Pan

    (Business School, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
    These anthers contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yanjie Chen

    (Business School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Xinheng Liu

    (Business School, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541104, China)

  • Qi Ban

    (Postdoctoral Station of Applied Economics, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China)

Abstract

Energy conservation and emission reduction are essential for China’s economy to achieve sustainable development. This paper integrates industrial robots and pollution emissions into a heterogeneous firm model to theoretically analyze the impact and mechanism of industrial robots on pollution emissions of listed manufacturing firms. Using data from a sample of listed manufacturing firms over the period 2012–2022, an econometric model is constructed and empirically tested. The results of the study show that industrial robots have had a significant impact on the emission intensity of the manufacturing industry through technological progress and innovation effects, while firms’ pollution levels, regional environmental regulatory intensity, ownership type, and factor intensity type have heterogeneous effects on abatement. In view of this, the application of industrial robots should be promoted according to local conditions, the development of differentiated environmental regulatory policies, and targeted measures to give full play to the emission reduction effect of industrial robots, to synergistically promote a high level of ecological environmental protection and sustainable economic and social development by accelerating the greening and intelligent transformation of China’s manufacturing enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Shurong Zi & Ziyuan Pan & Yanjie Chen & Xinheng Liu & Qi Ban, 2025. "Intelligent Manufacturing and Pollution Emissions from Chinese Manufacturing Firms: Theories and Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-21, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:2:p:773-:d:1570818
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/773/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/2/773/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jay Dixon & Bryan Hong & Lynn Wu, 2021. "The Robot Revolution: Managerial and Employment Consequences for Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(9), pages 5586-5605, September.
    2. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1488-1542, June.
    3. Joseph S. Shapiro & Reed Walker, 2018. "Why Is Pollution from US Manufacturing Declining? The Roles of Environmental Regulation, Productivity, and Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(12), pages 3814-3854, December.
    4. García, Carlos J. & González, Wildo D. & Rivera, Tiare, 2024. "Robots at work in emerging developing countries: How bad could it be?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    5. Kleibergen, Frank & Paap, Richard, 2006. "Generalized reduced rank tests using the singular value decomposition," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 133(1), pages 97-126, July.
    6. Marc J. Melitz, 2003. "The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(6), pages 1695-1725, November.
    7. Gutiérrez, Emilio & Teshima, Kensuke, 2018. "Abatement expenditures, technology choice, and environmental performance: Evidence from firm responses to import competition in Mexico," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 264-274.
    8. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.
    9. Önder Nomaler & Bart Verspagen, 2020. "Perpetual growth, the labor share, and robots," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5), pages 540-558, July.
    10. Venturini, Francesco, 2022. "Intelligent technologies and productivity spillovers: Evidence from the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 220-243.
    11. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(6), pages 2188-2244.
    12. Gene M. Grossman & Alan B. Krueger, 1995. "Economic Growth and the Environment," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 110(2), pages 353-377.
    13. Lene Kromann & Nikolaj Malchow-Møller & Jan Rose Skaksen & Anders Sørensen, 2020. "Automation and productivity—a cross-country, cross-industry comparison," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 29(2), pages 265-287.
    14. Huzhou Zhu & Bin Sang & Chunyuan Zhang & Lin Guo, 2023. "Have Industrial Robots Improved Pollution Reduction? A Theoretical Approach and Empirical Analysis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(4), pages 153-172, July.
    15. Lin William Cong & Danxia Xie & Longtian Zhang, 2021. "Knowledge Accumulation, Privacy, and Growth in a Data Economy," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(10), pages 6480-6492, October.
    16. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.
    17. Chi Gong & Xianghui Yang & Hongru Tan & Xiaoye Lu, 2023. "Industrial Robots, Economic Growth, and Sustainable Development in an Aging Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, March.
    18. Yuting Dang & Yating Song & Muhammad Mohiuddin & Dan Sheng, 2022. "Towards Cleaner Production Ecosystem: An Analysis of Embodied Industrial Pollution in International Trade of China’s Processing versus Normal Exports," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-21, August.
    19. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Qin, Shuai & Li, Yaya, 2022. "Does industrial robot application promote green technology innovation in the manufacturing industry?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    20. Gan, Jiawu & Liu, Lihua & Qiao, Gang & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    21. Lihua Zhang & Tian Gan & Jiachen Fan, 2023. "Do industrial robots affect the labour market? Evidence from China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 787-817, July.
    22. Antonioli, Davide & Marzucchi, Alberto & Rentocchini, Francesco & Vannuccini, Simone, 2024. "Robot adoption and product innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    23. Muhammad Awais Baloch & Danish, 2022. "CO2 emissions in BRICS countries: what role can environmental regulation and financial development play?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 172(1), pages 1-14, May.
    24. Sharfaei, Shahab & Bittner, Jan, 2024. "Technological employment: Evidence from worldwide robot adoption," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    25. Chen, Xiaoping & Shao, Yuchen & Zhao, Xiaotao, 2023. "Does export liberalization cause the agglomeration of pollution? Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    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. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "Enhancing energy-environmental performance through industrial intelligence: Insights from Chinese prefectural-level cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    2. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "The effects of industrial robots on firm energy intensity: From the perspective of technological innovation and electrification," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo & Du, Shanzhong & Cao, June, 2024. "Robot adoption and enterprise R&D manipulation: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    4. FU, Yunyun & SHEN, Yongchang & SONG, Malin & WANG, Weiyu, 2024. "Does artificial intelligence reduce corporate energy consumption? New evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 548-561.
    5. Peng Liang & Xinhui Sun & Luzhuang Qi, 2024. "Does artificial intelligence technology enhance green transformation of enterprises: based on green innovation perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21651-21687, August.
    6. Dan Xie, 2024. "China’s Manufacturing Pollution, Environmental Regulation and Trade," FIW Working Paper series 198, FIW.
    7. Xin, Baogui & Ye, Xiaopu, 2024. "Robotics applications, inclusive employment and income disparity," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    8. Zhou, Wei & Zhuang, Yan & Chen, Yan, 2024. "How does artificial intelligence affect pollutant emissions by improving energy efficiency and developing green technology," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    9. Huzhou Zhu & Bin Sang & Chunyuan Zhang & Lin Guo, 2023. "Have Industrial Robots Improved Pollution Reduction? A Theoretical Approach and Empirical Analysis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(4), pages 153-172, July.
    10. Xi Lin & Ling-Yun He, 2023. "The More the Merrier? Evidence from Firm-Level Exports and Environmental Performance in China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 84(1), pages 125-172, January.
    11. Nikolova, Milena & Cnossen, Femke & Nikolaev, Boris, 2024. "Robots, meaning, and self-determination," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(5).
    12. Li, Jianjun & Wu, Zhouyi & Yu, Kaijia & Zhao, Wei, 2024. "The effect of industrial robot adoption on firm value: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    13. Wang, Ting & Zhang, Yi & Liu, Chun, 2024. "Robot adoption and employment adjustment: Firm-level evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    14. Huang, Geng & He, Ling-Yun & Lin, Xi, 2022. "Robot adoption and energy performance: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    15. Jevan M. Cherniwchan & M. Scott Taylor, 2022. "International Trade and the Environment: Three Remaining Empirical Challenges," NBER Working Papers 30020, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Wang, Hua & Liao, Lingtao & Wu, Ji (George), 2023. "Robot adoption and firm's capacity utilization: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    17. He, Xiaogang & Teng, Ruifeng & Feng, Dawei & Gai, Jiahui, 2024. "Industrial robots and pollution: Evidence from Chinese enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 629-650.
    18. Li, Zhensheng & Zhu, Junpeng & Wang, Shuqiong, 2024. "Environmental regulation, intelligent manufacturing and corporate investment & financing: Evidence from industrial robot investment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    19. Zhang, Aili & Zhu, Han & Sun, Xinyu, 2024. "Manufacturing intelligentization and technological innovation: Perspectives on intra-industry impacts and inter-industry technology spillovers," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    20. David E. Bloom & Klaus Prettner & Jamel Saadaoui & Mario Veruete, 2023. "Artificial intelligence and the skill premium," Papers 2311.09255, arXiv.org.

    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:17:y:2025:i:2:p:773-:d:1570818. 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.