The Effects of Digital New Quality Productivity on Environmental Inequality in China

Guangting Guo and Shaoyan Yang

Review of Development Economics, 2026, vol. 30, issue 3, 1470-1485

Abstract: Mitigating environmental inequality is crucial for addressing ecological issues and achieving coordinated regional development. Previous studies have primarily examined ecological and economic factors affecting environmental inequality. However, the environmental impacts of digitalization have become a crucial topic in the field due to its growing prevalence. This research innovatively utilizes ecological environmental quality data from 286 prefecture‐level cities in China (2011–2021) and the Yitzhaki index to construct an individual‐level environmental quality inequality index and explore the relationship between digital new quality productivity (DNQP) and environmental inequality. The findings reveal that, first, there is an inverted U‐shaped relationship between DNQP and environmental inequality, indicating a “destruction followed by governance” pattern in DNQP's environmental effects. Second, higher ecology, economy, and digitalization levels enhance DNQP's effectiveness in reducing environmental inequality. Third, DNQP affects environmental inequality through allocation, synergy, and mitigation effects by improving energy efficiency, advancing green technology, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, its mobility effects lead to the brain drain of research and education talent from underdeveloped regions, exacerbating environmental inequality. Given the “double‐edged sword” effect of DNQP on environmental inequality, this research deepens our understanding of digitalization's environmental impact and provides insights for addressing the resulting environmental inequality.

Date: 2026
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