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Assessing the effect of urban digital infrastructure on green innovation: mechanism identification and spatial-temporal characteristics

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  • Chengming Li

    (Minzu University of China
    Minzu University of China)

  • Meiyu Wen

    (Minzu University of China
    Minzu University of China)

  • Shaoxiang Jiang

    (Peking University)

  • Huaxing Wang

    (Hangzhou City University
    Zhejiang University)

Abstract

Under the background of digitization and greening in China, digital infrastructure offers new opportunities for developing green innovation. This paper investigates the effect of digital infrastructure on urban green innovation using panel data from 285 Chinese prefecture-level cities between 2011 and 2020, and explains the mechanism and its spatial-temporal dynamic effect. The results demonstrate that digital infrastructure promotes urban green innovation. Talent agglomeration, R&D investment increase, and industrial structure upgrading are crucial channels. Furthermore, depending on a city’s size, human capital, environmental regulations, and financial subsidies, digital infrastructure contributes to urban green innovation differently. Also, there is not only a positive spatial spillover effect of digital infrastructure but a threshold effect that presents a nonlinear trend of rising marginal effect. This study provides a new perspective for promoting digital infrastructure and urban green innovation, which makes a difference in facilitating its high-level development collaboratively.

Suggested Citation

  • Chengming Li & Meiyu Wen & Shaoxiang Jiang & Huaxing Wang, 2024. "Assessing the effect of urban digital infrastructure on green innovation: mechanism identification and spatial-temporal characteristics," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-02787-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-02787-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lei Li & Xiaoyu Ma & Shaojun Ma & Feng Gao, 2024. "Role of green finance in regional heterogeneous green innovation: Evidence from China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Lixin Zhou & Caiping Qu & Li Zhi, 2024. "Research on the Impact of Digital Infrastructure on Urban Breakthrough Green Innovation: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Weihua Liu & Jiahe Hou & Yang Cheng & Chaolun Yuan & Rui Lan & Hing Kai Chan, 2024. "The potential of smart factories in reducing environmental emissions: the evidence from Chinese listed manufacturing firms," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.

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