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Corporations’ digital attitude and digital technology innovation: Are the heart and mouth in agreement or not?

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  • Du, Weijian
  • Li, Mengjie

Abstract

In the “what to say–how to say it–what to do” context, this study uses the sample data of Chinese listed companies to investigate the relationship between digital attitude and digital technology innovation. This study shows that the importance given to digitalization and the optimism listed companies toward digitalization increase digital patent applications through the R&D investment, financing constraints and scale expansion. Additionally, digital word frequency promotes the digital innovation of other firms, whereas digital tone promotes only the digital technology innovation of other firms in the same industry. This study helps open the “black box” of companies’ digital actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Du, Weijian & Li, Mengjie, 2025. "Corporations’ digital attitude and digital technology innovation: Are the heart and mouth in agreement or not?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:75:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325001746
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.106910
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    Cited by:

    1. Xu, Shiguo & Zhou, Lianjie & He, Mengwei, 2025. "Heterogeneous institutional investor behaviour and corporate digital technology innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Yang, Yun & Li, Yushuang & Liang, Xueping, 2025. "The role of data trading platforms (DTPs) in digital technology innovation: Mechanisms and evidence from China," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 1372-1396.
    3. Du, Weijian & Cheng, Cheng & Li, Mengjie, 2025. "Can listed company digitization reduce the risk of export failure? Evidence from multisource heterogeneous data in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).

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