Driving Green Transformation Through the National Digital Economy Innovation Pilot: A Quasi-Experimental Study on Reducing Urban Energy Intensity in 282 Chinese Cities

Shoufu Lin, Quan Lin, Qian Wang, Chenyong Shi () and Marcel Ausloos
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Shoufu Lin: School of Economics, Fujian Normal University, No. 8 Xuefu South Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou 350117, China
Quan Lin: School of Economics, Fujian Normal University, No. 8 Xuefu South Road, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou 350117, China
Qian Wang: School of Economics, Management and Law, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
Chenyong Shi: School of Business, University of Leicester, Brookfield, Leicester LE2 1RQ, UK
Marcel Ausloos: School of Business, University of Leicester, Brookfield, Leicester LE2 1RQ, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: Drawing upon a quasi-natural experiment, this research investigates the influence of China’s National Digital Economy Innovation Development Pilot Policy on urban energy intensity. By examining a sample of 282 Chinese cities with the difference in differences (DID) approach, the findings provide robust empirical support for the proposition that digital economy pilot policies substantially reduce urban energy intensity. Furthermore, the policy’s effectiveness in lowering urban energy intensity differs across cities with varying administrative levels and population scales. The results suggest that the policy’s impact is more pronounced in ordinary cities (non-provincial capitals/municipalities) and in those with smaller populations. An examination of the underlying mechanisms reveals three principal pathways through which the policy affects energy consumption: (1) digital economic development, which promotes optimal resource allocation and enhanced energy intensity; (2) technological innovation, driving advances in green technologies and supporting sustainable industrial upgrades; and (3) economic agglomeration, which leverages economies of scale and industrial clustering to bolster energy efficiency. The conclusions underscore the necessity of expanding digital economy pilot zones, strengthening investments in digital infrastructure, and fostering greater technological innovation to sustain improvements in energy efficiency and environmental performance.

Keywords: digital economy; urban energy intensity; technological innovation; energy efficiency; difference in differences (DID); China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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