Yang Zhixiong, Zhang Jishun
School of Marxism, Ocean University of China, No.238, Songling Road, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 9;15(1):24671. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-09897-w.
Digital infrastructure is the foundation for the development of digital technologies, providing the necessary production materials for the development of the digital economy and new types of productivity. This study aims to explore the impact of digital infrastructure construction on the new types of productivity of enterprises. Using the "Broadband China" demonstration cities as a quasi-natural experiment, empirical analysis is conducted based on data from A-share listed companies between 2011 and 2023, employing a difference-in-differences approach with multiple time points. The study finds that the "Broadband China" demonstration city pilot significantly promoted the improvement of enterprise new-type productivity, and this conclusion remains robust after several tests. Further analysis of the mechanism reveals that digital infrastructure promotes the development of new-type productivity by accelerating the smart transformation of enterprises, enhancing their level of informatization, and boosting innovation capabilities. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the policy has a more significant effect on improving the new-type productivity of enterprises in sub-provincial cities, private enterprises, and growth-stage enterprises. This research not only provides empirical evidence for the empowerment of enterprise new-type productivity development through digital infrastructure but also enriches the research on how macro policies influence micro-level enterprises. Furthermore, it provides theoretical references and practical guidance for the development of the digital economy and the acceleration of digital technology advancements in other Chinese cities and many developing countries.
数字基础设施是数字技术发展的基础，为数字经济和新型生产力的发展提供必要的生产资料。本研究旨在探讨数字基础设施建设对企业新型生产力的影响。以“宽带中国”示范城市作为准自然实验，基于2011年至2023年A股上市公司的数据，采用多期双重差分法进行实证分析。研究发现，“宽带中国”示范城市试点显著促进了企业新型生产力的提升，且经过多项检验后该结论依然稳健。进一步的机制分析表明，数字基础设施通过加速企业智能化转型、提升信息化水平和增强创新能力来促进新型生产力的发展。异质性分析显示，该政策对提升副省级城市企业、民营企业和成长阶段企业的新型生产力具有更显著的效果。本研究不仅为通过数字基础设施赋能企业新型生产力发展提供了实证依据，还丰富了宏观政策如何影响微观企业的研究。此外，为中国其他城市以及众多发展中国家的数字经济发展和数字技术加速进步提供了理论参考和实践指导。
