IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finana/v102y2025ics1057521925001899.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental governance shock and industrial intelligence upgrading: Insights from machine-labor substitution

Author

Listed:
  • Wan, Yaqi
  • Li, Zhensheng

Abstract

Industrial intelligent upgrading is an inherent requirement for enterprise development and an urgent need for green economic transformation. From the perspective of machine-labor substitution by Chinese manufacturing enterprises, this study explores the causal relationship between environmental regulation and industrial robot adoption. Utilizing the partially linear functional-coefficient model, this paper further reveals the moderating role of asset size in intelligent upgrading. The findings indicate that with the capital deepening, the effect of environmental regulation on industrial robot investment shifts from insignificant to positively significant. However, the heterogeneous results reveal an unexpected consequence that this impact is more salient for non-polluting enterprises rather than for polluting enterprises which are more targeted by the environmental governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan, Yaqi & Li, Zhensheng, 2025. "Environmental governance shock and industrial intelligence upgrading: Insights from machine-labor substitution," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1057521925001899
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2025.104102
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1057521925001899
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.irfa.2025.104102?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Bing & Chen, Xiaolan & Guo, Huanxiu, 2018. "Does central supervision enhance local environmental enforcement? Quasi-experimental evidence from China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 70-90.
    2. Lin, Boqiang & Zhu, Junpeng, 2021. "Impact of China's new-type urbanization on energy intensity: A city-level analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Stefan Ambec & Mark A. Cohen & Stewart Elgie & Paul Lanoie, 2013. "The Porter Hypothesis at 20: Can Environmental Regulation Enhance Innovation and Competitiveness?," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 7(1), pages 2-22, January.
    4. Restuccia, Diego & Yang, Dennis Tao & Zhu, Xiaodong, 2008. "Agriculture and aggregate productivity: A quantitative cross-country analysis," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 234-250, March.
    5. Alvarez-Cuadrado, Francisco & Long, Ngo & Poschke, Markus, 2017. "Capital-labor substitution, structural change and growth," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 12(3), September.
    6. Yuan, Kaihua & Cui, Jingyuan & Zhang, Haipeng & Gao, Xiang, 2023. "Do cleaner production standards upgrade the global value chain position of manufacturing enterprises? Empirical evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Dana C. Andersen, 2016. "Credit Constraints, Technology Upgrading, and the Environment," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(2), pages 283-319.
    8. Robert M. Solow, 1956. "A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 70(1), pages 65-94.
    9. Wayne B. Gray & Ronald J. Shadbegian, 1998. "Environmental Regulation, Investment Timing, and Technology Choice," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(2), pages 235-256, June.
    10. Shuai Shao & Zhenbing Yang & Lili Yang & Shuang Ma, 2019. "Can China’s Energy Intensity Constraint Policy Promote Total Factor Energy Efficiency? Evidence from the Industrial Sector," The Energy Journal, , vol. 40(4), pages 101-128, July.
    11. Wang, En-Ze & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Li, Yaya, 2022. "Assessing the impact of industrial robots on manufacturing energy intensity in 38 countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    12. Tan, Ruipeng & Pan, Lulu & Xu, Mengmeng & He, Xinju, 2022. "Transportation infrastructure, economic agglomeration and non-linearities of green total factor productivity growth in China: Evidence from partially linear functional coefficient model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1-13.
    13. Michael Greenstone & Guojun He & Shanjun Li & Eric Yongchen Zou, 2021. "China’s War on Pollution: Evidence from the First 5 Years," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(2), pages 281-299.
    14. W. Reed Walker, 2011. "Environmental Regulation and Labor Reallocation: Evidence from the Clean Air Act," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(3), pages 442-447, May.
    15. Teng, Yuqiang & Du, Anna Min & Lin, Boqiang, 2024. "The mechanism of supply chain efficiency in enterprise digital transformation and total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    16. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(6), pages 2188-2244.
    17. Alexander Kurshev & Ilya A. Strebulaev, 2015. "Firm Size and Capital Structure," Quarterly Journal of Finance (QJF), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(03), pages 1-46, September.
    18. Chen, Chaoran, 2020. "Technology adoption, capital deepening, and international productivity differences," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    19. Kemp, René & Pontoglio, Serena, 2011. "The innovation effects of environmental policy instruments — A typical case of the blind men and the elephant?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 28-36.
    20. Yan, Zheming & Zou, Baoling & Du, Kerui & Li, Ke, 2020. "Do renewable energy technology innovations promote China's green productivity growth? Fresh evidence from partially linear functional-coefficient models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    21. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1488-1542, June.
    22. Zhang, Dongyang & Du, Pengcheng & Chen, Yaowen, 2019. "Can designed financial systems drive out highly polluting firms? An evaluation of an experimental economic policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    23. Zongwu Cai & Ying Fang & Ming Lin & Jia Su, 2019. "Inferences for a Partially Varying Coefficient Model With Endogenous Regressors," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 158-170, January.
    24. Fan, Haichao & Peng, Yuchao & Wang, Huanhuan & Xu, Zhiwei, 2021. "Greening through finance?," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    25. Daron Acemoglu & Veronica Guerrieri, 2008. "Capital Deepening and Nonbalanced Economic Growth," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(3), pages 467-498, June.
    26. Gray, Wayne B. & Shadbegian, Ronald J., 2003. "Plant vintage, technology, and environmental regulation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 384-402, November.
    27. repec:ags:aaea22:335879 is not listed on IDEAS
    28. Yan, Zheming & Zhou, Zicheng & Du, Kerui, 2023. "How does environmental regulatory stringency affect energy consumption? Evidence from Chinese firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    29. Wang, Weilong & Wang, Jianlong & Ye, Huiying & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "Polluted air, smarter factories? China's robot imports shed light on a potential link," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    30. Wei, Xiahai & Jiang, Feng & Chen, Yu & Hua, Wenhui, 2024. "Towards green development: The role of intelligent manufacturing in promoting corporate environmental performance," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    31. Cheng, Yuanyuan & Du, Kerui & Yao, Xin, 2023. "Stringent environmental regulation and inconsistent green innovation behavior: Evidence from air pollution prevention and control action plan in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    32. 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).
    33. Du, Kerui & Yu, Ying & Li, Jing, 2020. "Does international trade promote CO2 emission performance? An empirical analysis based on a partially linear functional-coefficient panel data model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    34. Dang, Tri Vi & Wang, Youan & Wang, Zigan, 2022. "The role of financial constraints in firm investment under pollution abatement regulation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    35. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2022. "Demographics and Automation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 89(1), pages 1-44.
    36. Tao, Weiliang & Weng, Shimei & Chen, Xueli & ALHussan, Fawaz Baddar & Song, Malin, 2024. "Artificial intelligence-driven transformations in low-carbon energy structure: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    37. Li, Jianglong & Liu, Hongxun & Du, Kerui, 2019. "Does market-oriented reform increase energy rebound effect? Evidence from China's regional development," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-1.
    38. Song, Malin & Pan, Heting & Shen, Zhiyang & Tamayo-Verleene, Kristine, 2024. "Assessing the influence of artificial intelligence on the energy efficiency for sustainable ecological products value," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    39. 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).
    40. Li, Daiyue & Jin, Yanhong & Cheng, Mingwang, 2024. "Unleashing the power of industrial robotics on firm productivity: Evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 500-520.
    41. Zhu, Junpeng & Wu, Shaohui & Xu, Junbing, 2023. "The abatement effect of total emission control policy: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    42. Shuai Shao, Zhenbing Yang, Lili Yang, and Shuang Ma, 2019. "Can China's Energy Intensity Constraint Policy Promote Total Factor Energy Efficiency? Evidence from the Industrial Sector," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).
    43. Chen, Zhao & Kahn, Matthew E. & Liu, Yu & Wang, Zhi, 2018. "The consequences of spatially differentiated water pollution regulation in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 468-485.
    44. Faber, Marius, 2020. "Robots and reshoring: Evidence from Mexican labor markets," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    45. Lu, Chia-Hui, 2021. "The impact of artificial intelligence on economic growth and welfare," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    46. Wu, Mingqin & Cao, Xun, 2021. "Greening the career incentive structure for local officials in China: Does less pollution increase the chances of promotion for Chinese local leaders?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    47. Curtis, E. Mark & Lee, Jonathan M., 2019. "When do environmental regulations backfire? Onsite industrial electricity generation, energy efficiency and policy instruments," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 174-194.
    48. Li, Kai & Qi, Shouzhou & Shi, Xunpeng, 2023. "Environmental policies and low-carbon industrial upgrading: Heterogenous effects among policies, sectors, and technologies in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    49. Liu, Yunxin & Cao, Yuqiang & Lu, Meiting & Shan, Yaowen & Xu, Jiangang, 2024. "Automating efficiency: The impact of industrial robots on labor investment in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    50. Michael Greenstone & Guojun He & Shanjun Li & Eric Zou, 2021. "China’s War on Pollution: Evidence from the First Five Years," NBER Working Papers 28467, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    51. Cheng, Yuanyuan & Du, Kerui & Yao, Xin, 2024. "Restructuring and relocation of polluting industries under air pollution control: Evidence from industrial investment flows between Chinese cities," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    52. Michael Greenstone, 2002. "The Impacts of Environmental Regulations on Industrial Activity: Evidence from the 1970 and 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments and the Census of Manufactures," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 110(6), pages 1175-1219, December.
    53. repec:bla:jindec:v:46:y:1998:i:2:p:235-56 is not listed on IDEAS
    54. Du, Congcong & Cao, Yunhui & Ling, Yushan & Jin, Zebin & Wang, Shibo & Wang, Daoping, 2024. "Does manufacturing agglomeration promote green productivity growth in China? Fresh evidence from partially linear functional-coefficient models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    55. Surender Kumar & Hidemichi Fujii & Shunsuke Managi, 2015. "Substitute or complement? Assessing renewable and nonrenewable energy in OECD countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(14), pages 1438-1459, March.
    56. Xia, Lei & Han, Qingjiang & Yu, Shui, 2024. "Industrial intelligence and industrial structure change: Effect and mechanism," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 1494-1506.
    57. Zhao, Pan & Hu, Guoheng & Jin, Peizhen, 2023. "Biased technical change, capital deepening, and efficiency of environmental regulations: Evidence from the Chinese provinces," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    58. Fan, Haichao & Hu, Yichuan & Tang, Lixin, 2021. "Labor costs and the adoption of robots in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 608-631.
    59. Li, Zhensheng & Zhu, Junpeng & Wang, Shuqiong, 2024. "Environmental regulation, intelligent manufacturing and corporate investment & financing: Evidence from industrial robot investment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    60. Jung, Jin Hwa & Lim, Dong-Geon, 2020. "Industrial robots, employment growth, and labor cost: A simultaneous equation analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    61. Jia, Haibo & Li, Rongnan & Guo, Yuanbo & Zhao, Zi, 2025. "Research on corporate environmental investment behaviour driven by green credit policies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    62. Guo, Bingnan & Hu, Peiji & Lin, Ji, 2024. "The effect of digital infrastructure development on enterprise green transformation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    63. Cole, Matthew A., 2004. "Trade, the pollution haven hypothesis and the environmental Kuznets curve: examining the linkages," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 71-81, January.
    64. Yao, Wenyun & Zhang, Yi & Ma, Jingwen & Cui, Guanghui, 2023. "Does environmental regulation affect capital-labor ratio of manufacturing enterprises: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    65. Duan, Dingyun & Chen, Shaojian & Feng, Zongxian & Li, Jun, 2023. "Industrial robots and firm productivity," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 388-406.
    66. Li, Pei & Lu, Yi & Wang, Jin, 2016. "Does flattening government improve economic performance? Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 18-37.
    67. Wang, Ailun & Hu, Shuo & Li, Jianglong, 2021. "Does economic development help achieve the goals of environmental regulation? Evidence from partially linear functional-coefficient model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    68. Yonghui Zhang & Qiankun Zhou, 2021. "Partially linear functional-coefficient dynamic panel data models: sieve estimation and specification testing," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(10), pages 983-1006, November.
    69. Yang, Siying & Liu, Fengshuo, 2024. "Impact of industrial intelligence on green total factor productivity: The indispensability of the environmental system," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    70. Nicholas Kaldor, 1961. "Capital Accumulation and Economic Growth," International Economic Association Series, in: D. C. Hague (ed.), The Theory of Capital, chapter 0, pages 177-222, Palgrave Macmillan.
    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. Li, Zhensheng & Zhu, Junpeng & Wang, Shuqiong, 2024. "Environmental regulation, intelligent manufacturing and corporate investment & financing: Evidence from industrial robot investment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Schneider, Florian, 2024. "Do robots boost productivity? A quantitative meta-study," MPRA Paper 123392, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Zheng, Dawei & Wang, Tingdong, 2025. "Do industrial robot applications upgrade the global value chain position? Empirical evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    4. Dai, Hangrui & Yang, Ronghai & Cao, Rongguang & Yin, Lei, 2024. "Does the application of industrial robots promote export green transformation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    5. Xu, Chongchong & Lin, Boqiang, 2025. "The AI-sustainability Nexus: How does intelligent transformation affect corporate green innovation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Liu, Yunxin & Cao, Yuqiang & Lu, Meiting & Shan, Yaowen & Xu, Jiangang, 2024. "Automating efficiency: The impact of industrial robots on labor investment in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    7. Cheng, Han & Min, Changyi, 2025. "The mitigation effect of industrial robots on air pollution," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Yuan, Bo & Sun, Pengbo, 2024. "Does the high-tech foreign investment spark robot adoption in the developing world? Evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 302-314.
    9. 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).
    10. Tianru Qin & Lin Liang & Peng Liang & Wenqun Liang, 2025. "Can industrial robot utilization drive the total factor productivity of enterprises?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(1), pages 129-148, January.
    11. Peng Liang & Xinhui Sun & Luzhuang Qi, 2024. "Does artificial intelligence technology enhance green transformation of enterprises: based on green innovation perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 21651-21687, August.
    12. Du, Kerui & Cheng, Yuanyuan & Yao, Xin, 2021. "Environmental regulation, green technology innovation, and industrial structure upgrading: The road to the green transformation of Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    13. Jurkat, Anne & Klump, Rainer & Schneider, Florian, 2023. "Robots and Wages: A Meta-Analysis," EconStor Preprints 274156, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    14. Tang, Yuwei & Sun, Yanlin & He, Zhenyu, 2025. "Air pollution and firms' robot adoption: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    15. Wang, Weilong & Wang, Jianlong & Ye, Huiying & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "Polluted air, smarter factories? China's robot imports shed light on a potential link," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    16. Wang, Ting & Zhang, Yi & Liu, Chun, 2024. "Robot adoption and employment adjustment: Firm-level evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    17. Federico Fabio Frattini & Francesco Vona & Filippo Bontadini, 2024. "Does Green Re-industrialization Pay off? Impacts on Employment, Wages and Productivity," Working Papers 2024.23, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    18. Shiyi Chen & Xiaoxiao Ding & Pingyi Lou & Hong Song, 2022. "New evidence of moral hazard: Environmental liability insurance and firms' environmental performance," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 89(3), pages 581-613, September.
    19. Qian, Cheng & Zhu, Chun & Huang, Duen-Huang & Zhang, Shangfeng, 2023. "Examining the influence mechanism of artificial intelligence development on labor income share through numerical simulations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    20. Cheng, Yuanyuan & Du, Kerui & Yao, Xin, 2024. "Restructuring and relocation of polluting industries under air pollution control: Evidence from industrial investment flows between Chinese cities," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:finana:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1057521925001899. 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.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620166 .

    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.