IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecanpo/v84y2024icp424-439.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital technology and domestic value-added ratio in export: Evidence from China's pilot zones for integrating informatization and industrialization

Author

Listed:
  • Pang, Suqin
  • Li, Zhaohua
  • Wang, Yong

Abstract

Accelerating the penetration of digital technology into industrial transformation is an important concern for developing economies that dedicate to achieve high-quality development of foreign trade. Regarding China's pilot zones for integrating informatization and industrialization (PZII) as an exogenous shock of digital technology application, this study sheds light on effects of digital technology on domestic value-added ratio in export (DVAR) based on fine-grained firm-level data covering 2002–2013. Our finding reveals that digital technology improves firms’ DVAR, and the results remain consistent after conducting a series of robustness checks and addressing potential endogeneity. The heterogeneity analysis suggests that digital technology exerts significantly positive effects on DVAR of processing trade rather than general trade firms, foreign rather than domestic firms, and eastern rather than middle and western firms. The mechanism test discloses that digital technology positively affects DVAR through cost reduction effects and technology progress effects. Further investigation shows that market competition plays a positive role in moderating effects of digital technology on firms’ DVAR. Lastly, this study puts forward corresponding policy implications based on the conclusions.

Suggested Citation

  • Pang, Suqin & Li, Zhaohua & Wang, Yong, 2024. "Digital technology and domestic value-added ratio in export: Evidence from China's pilot zones for integrating informatization and industrialization," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 424-439.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:84:y:2024:i:c:p:424-439
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2024.08.030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592624002194
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eap.2024.08.030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert Koopman & Zhi Wang & Shang-Jin Wei, 2014. "Tracing Value-Added and Double Counting in Gross Exports," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(2), pages 459-494, February.
    2. Clément de Chaisemartin & Xavier D'Haultfœuille, 2020. "Two-Way Fixed Effects Estimators with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(9), pages 2964-2996, September.
    3. David Autor & David Dorn & Gordon H. Hanson & Gary Pisano & Pian Shu, 2020. "Foreign Competition and Domestic Innovation: Evidence from US Patents," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 357-374, September.
    4. He, Bin & Chen, Haiyang & Li, Zheng & Zhou, Xizhen, 2023. "Information and communication technology and innovation performance of firms: Evidence from Chinese listed state-owned enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 47-59.
    5. Marc J. Melitz & Giancarlo I. P. Ottaviano, 2021. "Market Size, Trade, and Productivity," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Firms and Workers in a Globalized World Larger Markets, Tougher Competition, chapter 4, pages 87-108, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    6. Mr. Kevin C Cheng & Sidra Rehman & Dulani Seneviratne & Shiny Zhang, 2015. "Reaping the Benefits from Global Value Chains," IMF Working Papers 2015/204, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Liu, Qing & Qiu, Larry D., 2016. "Intermediate input imports and innovations: Evidence from Chinese firms' patent filings," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 166-183.
    8. Manova, Kalina & Yu, Zhihong, 2016. "How firms export: Processing vs. ordinary trade with financial frictions," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 120-137.
    9. Thorsten Beck & Ross Levine & Alexey Levkov, 2010. "Big Bad Banks? The Winners and Losers from Bank Deregulation in the United States," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(5), pages 1637-1667, October.
    10. Ricardo Hausmann & Jason Hwang & Dani Rodrik, 2007. "What you export matters," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, March.
    11. Chor, Davin & Manova, Kalina & Yu, Zhihong, 2021. "Growing like China: Firm performance and global production line position," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    12. Lirong Liu & Hiranya K. Nath, 2013. "Information and Communications Technology and Trade in Emerging Market Economies," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(6), pages 67-87, November.
    13. Aichele, Rahel & Heiland, Inga, 2018. "Where is the value added? Trade liberalization and production networks," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 130-144.
    14. Joshua D. Angrist & Jörn-Steffen Pischke, 2009. "Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 8769.
    15. Daron Acemoglu & David Autor & David Dorn & Gordon H. Hanson & Brendan Price, 2014. "Return of the Solow Paradox? IT, Productivity, and Employment in US Manufacturing," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(5), pages 394-399, May.
    16. Hiau Looi Kee & Heiwai Tang, 2016. "Domestic Value Added in Exports: Theory and Firm Evidence from China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 106(6), pages 1402-1436, June.
    17. Tang, Heiwai & Wang, Fei & Wang, Zhi, 2020. "Domestic segment of global value chains in China under state capitalism✰," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 797-821.
    18. Xianhai Huang & Xueyin Song, 2019. "Internet use and export upgrading: Firm‐level evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 1126-1147, September.
    19. Arndt, Sven W., 1997. "Globalization and the open economy," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 71-79.
    20. Nambisan, Satish & Wright, Mike & Feldman, Maryann, 2019. "The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    21. Ahn, JaeBin & Khandelwal, Amit K. & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2011. "The role of intermediaries in facilitating trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 73-85, May.
    22. Eliana La Ferrara & Alberto Chong & Suzanne Duryea, 2012. "Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 1-31, October.
    23. Iacovone, Leonardo & Pereira-López, Mariana & Schiffbauer, Marc, 2023. "Competition makes IT better: Evidence on when firms use IT more effectively," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    24. Fan, Jingting & Tang, Lixin & Zhu, Weiming & Zou, Ben, 2018. "The Alibaba effect: Spatial consumption inequality and the welfare gains from e-commerce," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 203-220.
    25. Huang, Yi & Sheng, Liugang & Wang, Gewei, 2021. "How did rising labor costs erode China’s global advantage?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 632-653.
    26. Robert C. Johnson, 2014. "Five Facts about Value-Added Exports and Implications for Macroeconomics and Trade Research," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 28(2), pages 119-142, Spring.
    27. Erik Brynjolfsson & Xiang Hui & Meng Liu, 2019. "Does Machine Translation Affect International Trade? Evidence from a Large Digital Platform," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(12), pages 5449-5460, December.
    28. Sun, Chuanwang & Zhan, Yanhong & Gao, Xiang, 2023. "Does environmental regulation increase domestic value-added in exports? An empirical study of cleaner production standards in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    29. Erik Brynjolfsson & Daniel Rock & Chad Syverson, 2018. "Artificial Intelligence and the Modern Productivity Paradox: A Clash of Expectations and Statistics," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: An Agenda, pages 23-57, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    30. Iacovone, Leonardo & Rauch, Ferdinand & Winters, L. Alan, 2013. "Trade as an engine of creative destruction: Mexican experience with Chinese competition," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 379-392.
    31. Marc J. Melitz & Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano, 2008. "Market Size, Trade, and Productivity (DOI:10.111/j.1467-937x.2007.00463.x)," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 75(3), pages 985-985.
    32. Haichao Fan & Yao Amber Li & Stephen R. Yeaple, 2015. "Trade Liberalization, Quality, and Export Prices," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 97(5), pages 1033-1051, December.
    33. Brandt, Loren & Van Biesebroeck, Johannes & Zhang, Yifan, 2012. "Creative accounting or creative destruction? Firm-level productivity growth in Chinese manufacturing," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 339-351.
    34. Yue Lu & Lijing Deng & Ka Zeng, 2022. "Foreign direct investment, innovation, and domestic value‐added in exports: Firm‐level evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1199-1228, September.
    35. Philippe Aghion & Xavier Jaravel, 2015. "Knowledge Spillovers, Innovation and Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 0(583), pages 533-573, March.
    36. Nataša Vrh, 2019. "The DNA of the domestic value added (DVA) in exports: Firm‐level analysis of DVA in exports," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(9), pages 2566-2601, September.
    37. Beata Smarzynska Javorcik, 2004. "Does Foreign Direct Investment Increase the Productivity of Domestic Firms? In Search of Spillovers Through Backward Linkages," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(3), pages 605-627, June.
    38. Jonas Hjort & Jonas Poulsen, 2019. "The Arrival of Fast Internet and Employment in Africa," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 109(3), pages 1032-1079, March.
    39. Liu, Yuandan & Tang, Tingfeng & Ah, Ranran & Luo, Limin, 2024. "Has digital technology promoted the restructuring of global value chains? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 269-280.
    40. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    41. Wang, Ke-Liang & Sun, Ting-Ting & Xu, Ru-Yu & Miao, Zhuang & Cheng, Yun-He, 2022. "How does internet development promote urban green innovation efficiency? Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    42. Du, Yan & Yan, Jie & Cao, Fangzhou & Li, Yifei & Zhou, Mao, 2023. "Higher education expansion and domestic value added in exports: Theory and evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    43. Gopalan, Sasidaran & Reddy, Ketan & Sasidharan, Subash, 2022. "Does digitalization spur global value chain participation? Firm-level evidence from emerging markets," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    44. Kanyam, Daniel A. & Kostandini, Genti & Ferreira, Susana, 2017. "The Mobile Phone Revolution: Have Mobile Phones and the Internet Reduced Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 271-284.
    45. Li Da Xu & Eric L. Xu & Ling Li, 2018. "Industry 4.0: state of the art and future trends," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(8), pages 2941-2962, April.
    46. Miaojie Yu, 2015. "Processing Trade, Tariff Reductions and Firm Productivity: Evidence from Chinese Firms," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 125(585), pages 943-988, June.
    47. Forman, Chris & van Zeebroeck, Nicolas, 2019. "Digital technology adoption and knowledge flows within firms: Can the Internet overcome geographic and technological distance?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    48. Clarke, George R.G., 2008. "Has the internet increased exports for firms from low and middle-income countries," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 16-37, March.
    49. Zhang, Hongsheng & Liu, Qingqing & Wei, Yueling, 2023. "Digital product imports and export product quality: Firm-level evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    50. Robert C. Feenstra & Zhiyuan Li & Miaojie Yu, 2014. "Exports and Credit Constraints under Incomplete Information: Theory and Evidence from China," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 96(4), pages 729-744, October.
    51. Jenkins, Rhys & Peters, Enrique Dussel & Moreira, Mauricio Mesquita, 2008. "The Impact of China on Latin America and the Caribbean," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 235-253, February.
    52. Liu, Yajie & Cui, Lijuan & Xiong, Yanyan & Yao, Xianguo, 2023. "Does the development of the Internet improve the allocative efficiency of production factors? Evidence from surveys of Chinese manufacturing firms," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 161-174.
    53. Gao, Peng & Zhang, Kunpeng & Zheng, Peng, 2024. "The impact of industrial digitization on the global value chains position: Evidence from China’ s industry sectors," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 147-162.
    54. DeStefano, Timothy & Kneller, Richard & Timmis, Jonathan, 2018. "Broadband infrastructure, ICT use and firm performance: Evidence for UK firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 110-139.
    55. Hummels, David & Ishii, Jun & Yi, Kei-Mu, 2001. "The nature and growth of vertical specialization in world trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 75-96, June.
    56. Upward, Richard & Wang, Zheng & Zheng, Jinghai, 2013. "Weighing China’s export basket: The domestic content and technology intensity of Chinese exports," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 527-543.
    57. Koopman, Robert & Wang, Zhi & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2012. "Estimating domestic content in exports when processing trade is pervasive," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 178-189.
    58. Nucci, Francesco & Puccioni, Chiara & Ricchi, Ottavio, 2023. "Digital technologies and productivity: A firm-level investigation," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    59. Arvanitis, Spyros & Loukis, Euripidis N., 2009. "Information and communication technologies, human capital, workplace organization and labour productivity: A comparative study based on firm-level data for Greece and Switzerland," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 43-61, February.
    60. Xu, Bin, 2010. "The sophistication of exports: Is China special?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 482-493, September.
    61. Xinheng Liu & Ziyuan Pan & Dongli Fang, 2023. "Agglomeration, resource reallocation and domestic value‐added ratio in exports," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 182-213, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sun, Chuanwang & Zhan, Yanhong & Gao, Xiang, 2023. "Does environmental regulation increase domestic value-added in exports? An empirical study of cleaner production standards in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Yue Lu & Lijing Deng & Ka Zeng, 2022. "Foreign direct investment, innovation, and domestic value‐added in exports: Firm‐level evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1199-1228, September.
    3. Xinheng Liu & Ziyuan Pan & Dongli Fang, 2023. "Agglomeration, resource reallocation and domestic value‐added ratio in exports," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 182-213, March.
    4. Yan Du & Yi Lu, 2018. "The Great Opening up and the Roadmap for the Future: The Story of China's International Trade," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 26(2), pages 68-93, March.
    5. Du, Yan & Yan, Jie & Cao, Fangzhou & Li, Yifei & Zhou, Mao, 2023. "Higher education expansion and domestic value added in exports: Theory and evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    6. Yajun Zhu & Churen Sun, 2022. "Carbon Reduction, Pollution Intensity, and Firms’ Ratios of Value Added in Exports: Evidence from China’s Low-Carbon Pilot Policy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, October.
    7. Gao, Yuning & Yu, Anqi & Jiang, Jiatong & Pei, Jiansuo, 2024. "Will global value chain participation reduce environmental emissions? Evidence from Chinese firm-level data," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 512-526.
    8. Songbo Wu & Yue Lu & Xiaofeng Lv, 2021. "Does value‐added tax reform boost firms’ domestic value added in exports? Evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1275-1299, November.
    9. Zhenzhen Feng & Huimin Tang, 2024. "Import competition and sustainable development of global value chains: Evidence from China," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2741-2753, June.
    10. Yuping Deng & Yanrui Wu & Helian Xu, 2022. "Emission Reduction and Value-added Export Nexus at Firm Level," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 22-19, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    11. Chor, Davin & Manova, Kalina & Yu, Zhihong, 2021. "Growing like China: Firm performance and global production line position," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    12. Hiau Looi Kee & Enze Xie & Xu,Mingzhi, 2024. "Firm Linkages and Domestic Value Added in Exports : Moving up the Global Value Chains with High-Speed Railways," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10985, The World Bank.
    13. Jiang, Jiatong & Pei, Jiansuo & Zhang, Meng, 2024. "Green credit and firms’ span of global production stages," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    14. Feng, Suling & Zhang, Rong & Di, Danyang & Li, Guoxiang, 2024. "Does digital transformation promote global value chain upgrading? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    15. Zhang, Chonghui & Yuan, Lingjing & Yu, Xiao & Chen, Xiaohua, 2024. "The linkage misalignment of productive services and firms' domestic value-added ratio——Evidence from Chinese micro-firm data," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    16. Dai, Mi & Maitra, Madhura & Yu, Miaojie, 2016. "Unexceptional exporter performance in China? The role of processing trade," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 177-189.
    17. Bai, Xue & Hong, Shengjie & Wang, Yaqi, 2021. "Learning from processing trade: Firm evidence from China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 579-602.
    18. Shen, Binchao, 2025. "Intermediated trade and innovation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    19. Zhiyuan Chen & Aksel Erbahar & Yuan Zi, 2019. "Made and Created in China: Super Processors and Two-way Heterogeneity," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-080/VI, Tinbergen Institute.
    20. Shuzhong Ma & Zengxi Hu, 2023. "Internet penetration and multi‐product exporters: Firm‐level evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(5), pages 1444-1470, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital technology; Techno-industrial policy; Domestic value-added ratio in export; Value-added trade; Global value chain;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:84:y:2024:i:c:p:424-439. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/economic-analysis-and-policy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.