Ziyuan Kexue (Aug 2023)
Impact of digital transformation on pollution emissions of manufacturing enterprises in China: A micro-level analysis based on three-dimensional panel data
Abstract
[Objective] Digital transformation provides an opportunity for manufacturing enterprises to save energy and reduce pollution emissions. Clarifying the impact of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprise pollution emissions and its mechanism provide important policy implications for high-quality economic development. [Methods] In this study, we used the fixed effect model, moderating effect model, and instrumental variable method to examine the impact of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprise pollution emissions and its mechanism based on the matching data of the China Industrial Enterprises Database, China Industrial Enterprises Pollution Emissions Database, and the World Input-Output Database. [Results] (1) The empirical results show that digital transformation can significantly inhibit the pollution emissions of manufacturing enterprises, and this inhibitory effect has heterogeneity across different industries, regions, and types of firm ownership. Specifically, the impact is greater in high-tech industries, eastern and northeastern regions, foreign investment firms, and export-oriented firms. (2) Further mechanism test results show that this inhibitory effect is achieved by the front-end control to improve productivity and promote energy consumption structure transformation, and back-end governance to improve pollution treatment capacity. [Conclusion] Digital transformation is conducive to optimizing enterprise environmental performance and helping advance ecological civilization. It is necessary to promote digital technology to empower the green transformation of manufacturing enterprises, form a virtuous cycle of digitalization and greening, and lead the formation of new economic growth points.
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