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Digital infrastructure construction drives green economic transformation: evidence from Chinese cities

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  • Ruiyang Ma

    (Xiamen University)

  • Boqiang Lin

    (Xiamen University)

Abstract

Existing studies mostly discussed the impact of transportation infrastructure on the economy and society. However, the environmental performance of digital infrastructure has been discussed less. This study explores the effect of digital infrastructure construction on green economic transformation based on theoretical analysis. Using the Broadband China policy as a quasi-natural experiment, the authors construct a staggered difference-in-difference (DID) model and empirically assess the effect of digital infrastructure on green economic development with panel data of Chinese 271 cities from 2003 to 2019. First, the main results indicate that digital infrastructure can enable green economic performance in Chinese cities. The results remain robust after considering the heterogeneous treatment effects, placebo test, and excluding the effect of other policies. Second, the heterogeneity results indicate that green economic performance in eastern and economically developed cities benefits more from digital infrastructure construction. Finally, by enhancing energy efficiency, fostering digital industrialization, and stimulating green technology innovation, the digital infrastructure indirectly contributes to the urban green economy development. This study put forward some constructive policy suggestions to promote green economic transformation from the digital infrastructure construction perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruiyang Ma & Boqiang Lin, 2023. "Digital infrastructure construction drives green economic transformation: evidence from Chinese cities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-01839-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01839-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Shi Yin & Yudan Zhao, 2024. "Digital green value co-creation behavior, digital green network embedding and digital green innovation performance: moderating effects of digital green network fragmentation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Liping Qiu & Lihua Yang & Haiyan Zhou & Feng Hu, 2024. "Deconstruction of green product innovation drivers for regional export-oriented industrial enterprises in China: the product space perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Wang, Lianghu & Shao, Jun, 2024. "The energy saving effects of digital infrastructure construction: Empirical evidence from Chinese industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    4. Zhang, Hao & Song, Yan & Zhang, Ming & Duan, Ye, 2024. "Land use efficiency and energy transition in Chinese cities: A cluster-frontier super-efficiency SBM-based analytical approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    5. Yu Li & Panpan Feng & Tiange Qi & Jiale Yan & Yongjian Huang, 2024. "Enterprise digital transformation, managerial myopia and cost stickiness," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Haodong Yang & Li Liu & Gaofeng Wang, 2024. "Does large-scale research infrastructure affect regional knowledge innovation, and how? A case study of the National Supercomputing Center in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Sijin Chen, & Ning Li,, 2024. "From carbon-intensive to mineral resources: Barriers and motivators for embracing natural resource in the transition process," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

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