Development Of Digital Infrastructure Research Articles

Has digital infrastructure accelerated enterprises' specialization? Evidence from China

PurposeThis paper intends to explore the impact and mechanism of digital infrastructure development on enterprises vertical specialization. The following questions are discussed: (1) What is the impact of digital infrastructure on enterprise vertical specialization? (2) If the digital infrastructure serves to raise the level of vertical specialization of enterprises, does the impact differ depending on the level of city, industry and enterprise?Design/methodology/approachThe research employs the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment for digital infrastructure development, with a multi-period difference-in-difference model constructed to test the research hypothesis. The study examined data from Chinese A-share enterprises listed between 2007 and 2019.FindingsThe study’s findings indicate that the construction of digital infrastructure significantly increases firms' vertical specialization. According to the mechanism analysis, digital infrastructure can increase vertical specialization by lowering market transaction costs. This study employs group regressions in terms of cities, industries and companies to gain a better understanding of the heterogeneity of this effect. The results indicate that digital infrastructure contributes more significantly to higher levels of vertical specialization among enterprises in areas with higher levels of innovation and entrepreneurship as well as in eastern and central cities, service industries, and mature firms.Research limitations/implicationsThere are two shortcomings to this study that warrant investigating further. The first limitation is the mechanism. This study simply looked at the mechanism between variables in terms of transaction costs, using existing theories. As the level of technology continues to improve, the process of digital infrastructure’s impact on vertical specialization requires greater investigation. Another weakness of this study is its country-specific focus. The effect of digital infrastructure on vertical specialization differs by country, reflecting disparities in economic growth. Further discussion of cross-national comparative studies is required.Originality/valueThe study’s marginal contributions are largely represented in the two aspects listed below: (1) This paper includes a comprehensive theoretical study of the influence of digital infrastructure development on vertical specialization, focusing on transaction costs. This provides a theoretical foundation for the empirical study presented in this paper; (2) this study fills the gap in earlier research in this field, and the findings broaden research findings in areas such as digital infrastructure development and vertical specialization.

Can digital finance boost regional innovation? From the perspective of resource mismatch in China

ABSTRACT Digital finance provides new possible ways to promote innovation-driven development strategies. Using data of 257 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2019, this paper examines the impact of digital finance on regional innovation, as well as the mediating effect of resource mismatch underlies it. The empirical results are as follows. First, digital finance can significantly boost innovation, both in terms of the quantity and quality. Second, the incentive effects of innovation have been more obviously observed in the eastern cities and the cities with high financial levels or light digital divides in China. Third, the mechanism effect implies that digital finance works positively on innovation through improving the factor allocation efficiency by alleviating the misallocation of labour and capital. These conclusions indicate that to better promote regional innovation, it is crucial to encourage the digital transformation of the financial industry, enhance digital infrastructure development, and facilitate the free flow of resources among regions. The paper offers both theoretical and empirical evidence that digital finance influences regional innovation by alleviating resource mismatches. It also examines the role of the ‘digital divide’ in shaping innovation through digital finance. These two points constitute the key innovations of the paper.

Leveraging digital infrastructure for sustainable grain production: evidence from China

IntroductionAgriculture faces significant challenges in ensuring global food security while minimizing resource costs and environmental impacts. The development of digital infrastructure offers transformative potential for agricultural systems and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study examines the role of digital infrastructure in enhancing grain production capacity in China, a key player in the global food system.MethodsWe analyzed data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2021. A double machine learning model was employed to empirically assess the impact of digital infrastructure on grain production capacity, allowing for robust insights into causal relationships.ResultsResults reveal that digital infrastructure significantly enhances grain production. Mechanism analysis results indicate that digital infrastructure construction drives agricultural technological advancements and farmland scale, contributing to increased production capacity. Heterogeneity analysis results show that the impact of digital infrastructure construction is significant in major grain-producing regions and the central-eastern regions, while its effects are relatively limited in grain production-consumption balanced regions, main grain consumption regions, and the western regions.DiscussionThe results underscore the importance of strengthening digital infrastructure in rural areas to improve grain production capacity. Tailored policy implications are suggested to enhance sustainable food production and contribute to global food security, particularly in regions with varying agricultural dynamics.

Methodological approach to assessing the digital infrastructure of the northern regions of the Russian Federation

The northern territories of Russia need high-quality strategic digital changes in the structure of the regional economy. Digitalization and the introduction of digital technologies in the medium term will be able to transform economic relations in the old industrial and raw materials regions of the North, improve the quality of life of local communities. The growth of digital inequality among the regions under study leads to disproportions in their socio-economic development. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a methodology for assessing the level of development of the digital infrastructure of the Russian northern regions, including classification of an indicators system for each level of digital infrastructure, calculation of an integral index and typology of the territories under study. The objects of the study were 13 northern regions of the Russian Federation, the entire territory of which is classified as regions of the Extreme North and equivalent areas. The methodology made it possible to determine the level of technical, technological and personnel readiness of the northern regions for digitalization, to identify regions with the best solutions at each level of digital infrastructure development. The analysis of the results in dynamics helped to assess the effectiveness of regional policy for managing digitalization processes. As a result, the authors came to the conclusion that increasing the competitiveness of northern regions in the era of rapid digitalization is possible through investments in human capital and the creation of a network of scientific and technological clusters. The presented approach to assessing the development of individual levels and elements of digital infrastructure will allow for the diagnosis of priority needs of territories under study in the field of digitalization. The results of the study can form the basis for regional policy in the field of sustainable digital development of Russia.

A policy framework on AI usage in developing countries and its impact

The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both significant opportunities and challenges for developing countries. A well-structured policy framework is crucial to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks. This review proposes a comprehensive AI policy framework tailored to developing countries, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure, capacity building, ethical governance, and economic incentives. Key elements include the development of digital infrastructure, education and training programs to enhance AI literacy, and ethical guidelines to ensure fairness and transparency in AI applications. Data governance and privacy protections are critical, particularly in countries where regulatory frameworks are underdeveloped. Furthermore, international cooperation is highlighted as a necessity for aligning local policies with global AI standards, facilitating cross-border data sharing, and ensuring equitable access to AI innovations. The potential impact of AI on economic growth, job creation, healthcare, education, and public service delivery is profound, yet challenges such as workforce displacement, increased inequality, and the digital divide must be carefully managed. The proposed framework addresses these challenges, providing strategies to overcome barriers to AI adoption, including financial constraints, governance issues, and unequal access to technology. Moreover, it stresses the importance of fostering public-private partnerships and ensuring that AI development is inclusive, benefiting all segments of society. By implementing a comprehensive AI policy framework, developing countries can harness AI’s transformative power to drive sustainable development, improve social outcomes, and strengthen their economic standing in the global landscape. This review concludes by recommending continuous policy evaluation and adaptation to keep pace with AI's rapid evolution.

A Data Model for Unrecognised Historical Neighbourhood (Case study: Telukbetung, Indonesia)

Abstract. Unrecognised Historical places, which are locations with history but lacking official recognition, particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia, often face a dearth of accessible historical information. To tackle this challenge, there is an urgent need to commence the collection and documentation of historical data concerning Unrecognised Historical places. This initiative aims to prevent the loss of history, given that such sites are frequently subjected to rapid development and commercialization. To date, City Geography Markup Language (CityGML), an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard 3D data format, has been developed for presenting city models along with semantic data and is often used in the heritage domain for preservation. It aids in digital infrastructure development and the conservation of urban elements. Furthermore, it provides a mechanism to extend the standard data model to meet the requirements of various purposes. While several CityGML extensions tailored to the documentation of Cultural Heritage already exist, there is currently no extension specifically designed to address the requirements of Unrecognised Historical places. The aim of this paper is to identify a suitable approach for developing a new standardised data model that integrates geometric and semantic information, which is demonstrated for the modelling of Telukbetung, an old city in Bandar Lampung through time.

ҚАЗАҚСТАНДАҒЫ КӨТЕРМЕ САУДА НАРЫҒЫНЫҢ ИНФРАҚҰРЫЛЫМЫ: ЖАҒДАЙЫ МЕН ДАМУ БАҒЫТТАРЫ

This article analyzes the key components of the infrastructure of the food wholesale trade market in Kazakhstan. The authors provide a comprehensive review of retail trade formats in a regional context and assess the level of provision of trading platforms for the population. The study examines the structure of legal entities in trade, employment in regions, service preparation centers, wholesale trade centers, retail areas of large facilities, markets in rural areas, and the technical equipment ofspecialized markets.Additionally, the operation ofcommodity exchanges and the issues of purchasing products for stabilization funds are also explored. The state continues to play a key role in the food market, and the authors note that the Government of Kazakhstan is actively working on the development of digital infrastructure in food trade. The analysis identifies several issues that require state intervention, as well as the need to improve logistics and intermediary services. The authors emphasize the importance of introducing modern technologies alongside the development of commodity exchanges and mobile trade.

How high-speed railway expands beyond local knowledge search in interdisciplinary innovation: Evidence from China

Breaking through local knowledge search limitations is essential for fostering interdisciplinary innovation. This paper investigates how High-speed Railway (HSR) facilitates these firms in integrating information technology (IT) knowledge from other cities into their innovation processes. By connecting cities through faster transportation, HSR diminishes the constraints of geographical proximity, enabling firms to bypass the traditional reliance on local knowledge clusters and access a broader pool of IT expertise. Utilizing a difference-in-differences (DID) approach, our results reveal that HSR enhances knowledge search scope by improving access to IT resources, increasing human capital mobility, and raising competitive awareness. Additionally, we identify heterogeneity in this effect based on factors such as the marketization level of a firm's location, the degree of digital infrastructure development, whether a firm is located in a provincial capital, and the specific industry sector. Our findings further demonstrate that the expansion of knowledge search scope due to HSR significantly boosts future firm performance. These findings highlight the critical role of transportation infrastructure, exemplified by HSR, in breaking down geographic barriers to interdisciplinary knowledge flows and fostering more dynamic innovation ecosystems.

Research on energy saving effect of spatial correlation network of digital infrastructure: based on the analysis of network centrality.

Accurately portraying the spatially linked network characteristics of digital infrastructure and exploring its energy-saving effects are highly valuable for enhancing the synergy in digital infrastructure development and expanding its network spillover effects on energy conservation. This paper uses panel data at the city level in China and employs a modified gravity model to calculate the centrality of digital infrastructure spatial correlation network nodes. Based on this, an econometric model is constructed, incorporating variables such as digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality and urban green total factor energy efficiency. The model is used to analyze the effects and transmission paths of digital infrastructure network node centrality on urban green total factor energy efficiency. The analysis yields the following conclusions: (1) Digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality significantly improves urban green total factor energy efficiency, with considerable variability due to city geographic location, city scale, and city attributes. (2) Nonlinear testing results indicate that as digital infrastructure construction advances, its impact on urban green total factor energy efficiency shifts from inhibitory to promotional. (3) The impact mechanism shows that digital infrastructure node centrality enhances urban green total factor energy efficiency through green technology innovation. Additionally, it promotes advanced industrial structures and reduces capital mismatch, further influencing energy efficiency. (4) Digital infrastructure node centrality not only boosts urban green total factor energy efficiency but also facilitates regional convergence, increasing the convergence rate from 0.094 to 0.170%. The findings of the research offer policy guidance for the government on advancing digital transformation initiatives and enhancing energy efficiency.

The entrepreneurial effect of digital infrastructure development: micro evidence from China

ABSTRACT According to the Resource Dependence Theory (RDT), this study examines the entrepreneurial impact of digital infrastructure development on households in China. Drawing from a quasi-natural experiment of the Broadband China strategy, we applied the staggered difference-in-differences method. Our baseline results show that digital infrastructure development increases the likelihood of household entrepreneurship. Moreover, we found that this positive effect may be explained by information advantage, social network expansion, and financial constraint alleviation. Additionally, further analysis indicates that digital infrastructure development enhances household entrepreneurial performance and shows inclusive characteristics that are more conducive to promoting entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups; through entrepreneurship, digital infrastructure development further promotes household economic welfare. Our research not only broadens the applicability of RDT within the digital economy domain but also significantly contributes to the information technology for development literature.

The local wisdom approach in resolving non-performing loans at traditional village credit institution in Bali: a case study during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study explores the role of local wisdom in managing non-performing loans (NPLs) within Village Credit Institutions (VCDs) in Bali during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a case study approach, the research examines the effectiveness of traditional mechanisms such as awig-awig (customary law) and pararem (community agreements) in maintaining social cohesion and addressing financial challenges. Through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and document analysis, the study seeks to understand how these customary practices contribute to resolving NPLs. The findings indicate that local wisdom fosters community engagement and dialogue, offering temporary solutions to financial problems during crises. These traditional mechanisms promote a sense of collective responsibility and help maintain social harmony by facilitating discussions between debtors and VCDs. However, the research also highlights several limitations. While effective in the short term, local wisdom struggles to enforce sanctions and provide long-term resolutions, especially during severe economic downturns like the pandemic. This issue is compounded by external factors such as Bali’s heavy reliance on tourism, which makes the local economy highly vulnerable to global disruptions. The lack of digital infrastructure and the absence of integrated government support further intensify the challenges faced by VCDs in managing NPLs. The study concludes that while local wisdom remains a valuable tool for crisis management, its effectiveness is constrained in times of prolonged financial instability. For VCDs to achieve long-term sustainability and resilience in future crises, it is essential to integrate traditional practices with modern financial systems. Additionally, stronger government support, including digital infrastructure development and comprehensive financial regulations, is crucial to ensure the sustainability of VCDs. This combination of traditional and modern strategies can help VCDs navigate future economic challenges more effectively and safeguard their role in the local economy.

Research on the Rapid Development of China's Industrial Economy and Its Enlightenment to Vietnam

In recent years, facing profound adjustments in the global economy, China has clearly formulated and implemented strategies for the development of its industrial economy. These strategies include strengthening infrastructure, enhancing workforce quality, and expanding both domestic and international markets, effectively spurring rapid growth in the industrial sector. Despite significant achievements, China's industrial sector still faces challenges such as environmental pollution, limited innovative capacity in key technological areas, insufficient investment in basic research, and inadequate development of international markets. Drawing from China's experiences, it is suggested that Vietnam adopt similar strategies to modernize and internationalize its own industrial economy. This approach could accelerate Vietnam's industrial progress and boost its global competitiveness. However, Vietnam should adapt these strategies to its own unique context, emphasizing innovation-driven growth, high-value industries, and digital infrastructure development. By balancing state-driven industrial growth with private sector innovation, Vietnam can establish a resilient and competitive industrial base for long-term success.

Socio-cultural challenges in collections digital infrastructures

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the accelerations and constraints libraries, archives, museums and heritage organisations (“collections-holding organisations”) face in their role as collection data providers for digital infrastructures. To date, digital infrastructures operate within the cultural heritage domain typically as data aggregation platforms, such as Europeana or Art UK.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews with 18 individuals in 8 UK collections-holding organisations and 2 international aggregators.FindingsDiscussions about digital infrastructure development often lay great emphasis on questions and problems that are technical and legal in nature. As important as technical and legal matters are, more latent, yet potent challenges exist too. Though less discussed in the literature, collections-holding organisations' capacity to participate in digital infrastructures is dependent on a complex interplay of funding allocation across the sector, divergent traditions of collection description and disciplinaries’ idiosyncrasies. Accordingly, we call for better social-cultural and trans-sectoral (collections-holding organisations, universities and technological providers) understandings of collection data infrastructure development.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors recommend developing more understanding of the social-cultural aspects (e.g. disciplinary conventions) and their impact on collection data dissemination. More studies on the impact and opportunities of unified collections for different audiences and collections-holding organisations themselves are required too.Practical implicationsSustainable financial investment across the heritage sector is required to address the discrepancies between different organisation types in their capacity to deliver collection data. Smaller organisations play a vital role in diversifying the (digital) historical canon, but they often struggle to digitise collections and bring catalogues online in the first place. In addition, investment in existing infrastructures for collection data dissemination and unification is necessary, instead of creating new platforms, with various levels of uptake and longevity. Ongoing investments in collections curation and high-quality cataloguing are prerequisites for a sustainable heritage sector and collection data infrastructures. Investments in the sustainability of infrastructures are not a replacement for research and vice versa.Social implicationsThe authors recommend establishing networks where collections-holding organisations, technology providers and users can communicate their experiences and needs in an ongoing way and influence policy.Originality/valueTo date, the research focus on developing collection data infrastructures has tended to be on the drive to adopt specific technological solutions and copyright licensing practices. This paper offers a critical and holistic analysis of the dispersed experience of collections-holding organisations in their role as data providers for digital infrastructures. The paper contributes to the emerging understanding of the latent factors that make infrastructural endeavours in the heritage sector complex undertakings.

How Does Digital Infrastructure Development Affect Housing Prices? A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the “Broadband China” Program

Currently, digital infrastructure development, as a key driver of economic growth in the new era, provides a new perspective for alleviating the current tremendous downward pressure on China’s real estate market. Based on data from 255 prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2020, this study takes the “Broadband China” Program as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model to investigate mechanisms of impact of digital infrastructure development on housing prices. The empirical results show that the “Broadband China” Program has a significant positive impact on housing prices, with an average treatment effect of 8%. This primarily occurs through population agglomeration, income enhancement, and technological innovation. It has also a positive spatial spillover effect on housing prices. Overall, digital infrastructure development is a “double-edged sword”: while improving the quality of life and convenience, it will also bring about rising housing prices. Therefore, we should pay more attention to how to guide digital infrastructure development, including broadband networks, to reasonably regulate housing prices to promote the healthy development of China’s real estate market.

Digital Public Services in Indonesia Show High Satisfaction and Adaptation Challenges Remain

General background: Public service is an essential function of government, aimed at fulfilling citizen needs through the provision of goods, services, and administrative support in accordance with regulations. Effective public service requires continuous bureaucratic reforms. Specific background: Lemujut Village, in collaboration with the Population and Civil Registration Service of Sidoarjo Regency, introduced the Online Service (Plavon) application to improve population administration and civil registration services. However, the effectiveness of the Plavon application remains underexplored. Knowledge gap: There is limited research on the effectiveness of digital public service platforms like Plavon in rural Indonesian settings, particularly in terms of productivity, efficiency, satisfaction, and adaptability. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Plavon application in improving public service quality in Lemujut Village by analyzing five key elements: productivity, efficiency, satisfaction, adaptation, and development. Results: Findings indicate that productivity is high, with Plavon operators following procedures and maintaining public trust. However, efficiency is lacking, as some administrative processes fail to meet service time standards. Community satisfaction is notably high at 98.98%, but adaptation to digital services remains suboptimal due to inadequate socialization. Development efforts, such as coordinating via WhatsApp and establishing a call center, show significant progress. Novelty: This study provides a detailed evaluation of the Plavon application’s impact on village-level public services, highlighting the role of digitalization in improving service delivery while identifying challenges in community adaptation and efficiency. Implications: The findings suggest the need for enhanced socialization of digital services and continued development of digital infrastructure to ensure equitable access and efficiency in rural public services. Highlights: High public satisfaction, but service delays persist. Digital adaptation slow due to lack of community awareness. Effective coordination boosts service improvement efforts. Keywords: Public service, digital platform, Plavon, effectiveness, rural Indonesia

Strategies for Enhancing College Students’ Digital Literacy in the Digital Age

The advancement of digital technology has catalyzed digital reforms in the education sector and upgraded the structure of talent demands. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance college students’ digital literacy in the digital age. This paper begins with analyzing the definition of digital literacy, and then introducing the significance of cultivating college students’ digital literacy. But there are some challenges in the cultivation of digital literacy among college students, hence this paper analyzes these challenges and proposes four suggestions: promoting the development of digital infrastructure in education, implementing digital literacy training, incorporating digital literacy into the curriculum, and motivating students to consciously improve their digital literacy

Research on the influence of the digital economy on the development of China’s small household appliance industry and enhancement countermeasures

Purpose The implementation of the digital economy has had a considerable influence on the manufacturing industry, and this paper aims to address the important issues of how to capture the opportunities presented by digital innovation and promote the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, as well as the improvement of quality and efficiency. Design/methodology/approach Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces and cities between 2010 and 2021, this study establishes the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model and uses impulse response function analysis to evaluate the influence of the digital economy on the high-quality transformation and upgrading of China's small home appliance industry across five dimensions under the digital economy. Findings The development of digital infrastructure has not demonstrated a noteworthy capacity for advancing the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry. Furthermore, digital industrialization has exerted a minimal restraining influence on this process. Nevertheless, digital governance has consistently exhibited a substantial impact on facilitating the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry. While both industrial digitization and digital innovation hold significant potential for promoting the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry, their sustainability remains limited. Practical implications The organization should logically join independent innovation and open innovation, construct an industrial ecosystem for the profound convergence of the digital economy and compact household appliances, use digital-wise science and technology to empower the establishment of brand effects, strengthen the portrayal of the digital standard framework for the intelligent compact household appliance industry, advance the development of a public stage for computerized administrations in the compact household appliance industry and develop a strategy ecosystem for computerized assets in the compact household appliance industry. Originality/value This study offers systematic evidence of the relationship between the digital economy and the development of the small home appliance industry. The results of this research contribute to the literature on the impact of the digital economy on the manufacturing sector and provide a logical explanation for the transformation and upgrading of the small home appliance industry within the context of the digital economy.

Navigating the Malaysian dilemma: Constructing a sustainable economy in the post-COVID-19 era

The Malaysian dilemma presents a complex challenge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring a comprehensive statistical analysis for the formulation of a sustainable economic framework. This study delves into the multifaceted aspects of reconstructing Malaysia’s economy post-COVID-19, employing a data-driven approach to navigate the intricacies of the nation’s economic landscape. The research focuses on key statistical indicators, including GDP growth, unemployment rates, and inflation, to assess the immediate and long-term impacts of the pandemic. Additionally, it examines the effectiveness of government interventions and stimulus packages in mitigating economic downturns and fostering recovery. A comparative analysis with pre-pandemic data provides valuable insights into the extent of economic resilience and identifies sectors that require targeted support for sustained growth. Furthermore, the study explores the role of technology and digital transformation in building a resilient economy, considering the accelerated shift towards remote work and digital transactions during the pandemic. The analysis incorporates data on technological adoption rates, digital infrastructure development, and innovation ecosystems to gauge their contributions to economic sustainability. Addressing the Malaysian Dilemma also involves an examination of social and environmental dimensions. The study investigates the impact of economic policies on income distribution, social equity, and environmental sustainability, aiming to achieve sustainable economic growth. The study contributes a nuanced analysis to guide policymakers and stakeholders in constructing a sustainable post-COVID-19 economy in Malaysia.

Digital economy, financial development and energy transition in Africa: Exploring for synergies and nonlinearities

The transition to sustainable energy for all is a crucial aspect of the sustainable development goals, particularly Goal 7, which underscores the need for clean and affordable energy. This requires the development of digital infrastructure and a strong financial system. As a result, this study contributes to knowledge by exploring the synergies and nonlinear effects of the digital economy and financial development on renewable energy, which remains underexplored. To this effect, this study recruits the dynamic panel threshold and the generalised method of moments estimations to evaluate the linear, synergies and nonlinearities among these factors using a panel of forty-seven African countries. The key empirical results are stated as follows: (1) renewable energy is positively impacted by the digital economy; (2) the impact of the digital economy on renewable energy is moderated by financial development. This suggests that to ensure the propelling effect of the digital economy on renewable energy, there is a need for a stable and robust financial system; and (3) the study further found nonlinear effects of the digital economy and financial development on renewable energy, which takes a U-shaped relationship, implying that low level of digitalisation and financial development may hinder the transition to renewable energy, while high levels of these factors are essential to expedite the transition to a more sustainable energy system. Hence, African countries must embrace digitalisation and commit significant financial resources to developing their digital infrastructure to facilitate the achievement of the net zero agenda.

Repel or attract? Effects of urban digital infrastructure on labor migration: Evidence from urban China

As a key feature of digital economy, digital infrastructure plays a prominent role in influencing labor migration across regions. To examine the impact of urban digital infrastructure development on labor migration in China, we first propose the theoretical mechanism of urban digital infrastructure affecting labor migration. Using the conditional logit model, we further analyze the impact based on the data of 165,866 individual data from 2013 to 2018 and the data of 240 prefecture-level cities in China. Empirical results indicate that urban digital infrastructure development has a significant inverted U-shaped effect on labor migration. The individual heterogeneity of the inverted U-shaped effect is significant in the labor migrants. Urban digital infrastructure development is more attractive to labor migrants with low education levels, labor migrants with the rural hukou, as well as female and new-generation individuals. Further research shows that the mechanisms that the inverted U-shaped effect depends on the comprehensive effects of mediating effects including the employment creation, the productivity, the employment substitution, and moderating effects as employment quality. Our findings are helpful to guide the orderly labor migration in the context of the accelerated development of digital infrastructure.