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The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China

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  • Gan, Jiawu
  • Liu, Lihua
  • Qiao, Gang
  • Zhang, Qin

Abstract

Green innovative activities are important for sustainable business development and green growth. However, little attention has been given to the role of technology adoption in green innovation. In this study, using a sample of Chinese listed manufacturing companies over the time period 2011–2019, we find that the adoption of industrial robots positively affects green innovation and the results survive when using multiple robustness tests and addressing endogenous issues. Moreover, the possible mechanisms are labor cost saving and human capital structure adjustment. Our findings are more significant for firms facing more stringent environmental regulations, firms in high-tech industries, firms owning high levels of investment in R&D activities, and Non-SOEs. On the whole, this study provides the first firm-level economic consequences assessment of robot adoption in terms of green innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Gan, Jiawu & Liu, Lihua & Qiao, Gang & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:119:y:2023:i:c:s0264999322003650
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.106128
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    2. Ma, Xinru & He, Jingbin, 2023. "Air pollution and corporate green innovation in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    3. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "The effects of industrial robots on firm energy intensity: From the perspective of technological innovation and electrification," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    4. Murtaza Hussain & Shaohua Yang & Umer Sahil Maqsood & R. M. Ammar Zahid, 2024. "Tapping into the green potential: The power of artificial intelligence adoption in corporate green innovation drive," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4375-4396, July.
    5. Xuwei Tang & Qi Zhang & Chunxin Li & Haitao Zhang & Haiyun Xu, 2024. "Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.
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    8. Zhengang Zhang & Peilun Li & Liangxiong Huang & Yichen Kang, 2024. "The impact of artificial intelligence on green transformation of manufacturing enterprises: evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1-36, August.
    9. Liu, Lihua & Weng, Danyan & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "Unintended consequences of tax enforcement on corporate innovation: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1292-1309.
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    11. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "Enhancing energy-environmental performance through industrial intelligence: Insights from Chinese prefectural-level cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    12. Kong, Gaowen & Huang, Jiating & Kong, Dongmin & Zhu, Ling, 2023. "Female executives, industrial robots, and stock price crash risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    13. Li, Jianjun & Wu, Zhouyi & Yu, Kaijia & Zhao, Wei, 2024. "The effect of industrial robot adoption on firm value: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    14. Yaping Wang & Mengting Zhang, 2024. "How Military Executives Shape Digital Transformation of Firms—The Moderating Role of Symbiosis Orientation and Market Power," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-17, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robot adoption; Labor cost; Human capital; Green innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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