The incentive effect of government subsidies on the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises

Xueqi Zhao, Longwen Zhao, Xiaozhe Sun and Yibing Xing

International Journal of Emerging Markets, 2023, vol. 19, issue 11, 3892-3912

Abstract: Purpose - China's digital economy is flourishing and playing a pivotal role in the national economy. Government subsidies, as an important tool for the national treasury, are a “reassurance” for the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relations between the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises and government subsidies to provide inspiration for promoting the digitization and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry and facilitate enterprises' innovative development. Design/methodology/approach - Based on the panel data of 2,928 manufacturing listed companies in China from 2016 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the effect of subsidies on the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises using fixed-effect econometric regression. Findings - The results illustrate that subsidies effectively incentivize digital transformation in manufacturing enterprises, and verify different situations through heterogeneity. Further analysis of the moderating effect shows that the innovation level and servitization level of manufacturing enterprises positively moderated the relationship between government subsidies and the enterprise's digital transformation. Originality/value - Based on Chinese manufacturing enterprise samples, this paper empirically tests the incentive effect of government subsidies on the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises, therefore clarifying the main regulatory effects. This paper could provide enlightenment for manufacturing enterprises to make good use of government subsidies to improve their digital ability, thereby enhancing competitiveness in the digital economy era.

Keywords: Government subsidies; Digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises; Regulatory effect; Panel metrological analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijoemp:ijoem-05-2022-0766

DOI: 10.1108/IJOEM-05-2022-0766

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