The Impact of Digital Finance on Provincial Carbon Productivity: Empirical Evidence from China

Abstract

Based on the provincial panel data from China, this study explores the impact of digital finance on provincial carbon productivity. Further, the regional heterogeneity and spatial spillover effect, the moderating effects of financial supervision and environmental decentralization, and the mediating effect of green technology innovation are analyzed. The results show that digital finance can significantly improve provincial carbon productivity, and clearly promote carbon productivity in the underdeveloped provinces (i.e., central and western regions), but not in the economically developed provinces (i.e., eastern region). Digital finance has a positive spatial spillover effect on carbon productivity. In addition, financial supervision and environmental decentralization play moderating effects in the impact of digital finance on carbon productivity. Green technology innovation plays a partial mediating effect in the impact of digital finance on carbon productivity. This study provides a reference for improving carbon productivity and developing a low-carbon economy.