IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/reveco/v102y2025ics1059056025004976.html

The impact of new quality productivity on sustainable development performance

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Defang
  • Xie, Yuze
  • Wang, Mengkai
  • Peng, Ting
  • Ding, Jiahui

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of new quality productivity (Npro) on corporate sustainable development performance. Using data from Chinese A-share listed firms from 2011 to 2021, we find that companies that develop Npro can improve their sustainability performance. Mechanism analyses reveal that Npro primarily influences sustainability performance by improving green innovation capabilities and internal control levels. Furthermore, compared to non-high-tech firms, high-tech firms’ sustainability performance is more obviously enhanced. The positive effect is also more pronounced in firms at the growth stage than in those at the mature or recession stages. Therefore, firms should actively foster green productivity, comprehensively enhance the “green content” of all production factors, and green the combination of factors. Our findings contribute to break the “haze” faced by enterprise and provide empirical evidence to support sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Defang & Xie, Yuze & Wang, Mengkai & Peng, Ting & Ding, Jiahui, 2025. "The impact of new quality productivity on sustainable development performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1059056025004976
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2025.104334
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059056025004976
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104334?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. Sui, Xiaoning & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Wang, Yongming & Wang, Haijun, 2024. "Digital transformation and manufacturing company competitiveness," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Deng, Wenyueyang & Zhang, Zenglian & Guo, Borui, 2024. "Firm-level carbon risk awareness and Green transformation: A research on the motivation and consequences from government regulation and regional development perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Wang, Haijun & Zhou, Lili & Liu, Xin & Li, Huiyang & Liu, Ying, 2025. "Digital finance and new quality productive force of enterprise: Based on the analysis of enterprise industrial and commercial big data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).
    4. Jiaran Li & Haslindar Ibrahim, 2024. "Executive Green Perception and Green Innovation Improve New Quality Productivity in Chinese Listed Firms," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-29, October.
    5. Wang, Di & Shao, Xuefeng, 2024. "Research on the impact of digital transformation on the production efficiency of manufacturing enterprises: Institution-based analysis of the threshold effect," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 883-897.
    6. Delgado, Mercedes & Mills, Karen G., 2020. "The supply chain economy: A new industry categorization for understanding innovation in services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).
    7. Shang, Yuping & Raza, Syed Ali & Huo, Zhe & Shahzad, Umer & Zhao, Xin, 2023. "Does enterprise digital transformation contribute to the carbon emission reduction? Micro-level evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-13.
    8. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    9. Ma, Defang & Wang, Mengkai & Zeng, Bo & Jiang, Hong, 2024. "Peer effects of firm environmental protection expenditures," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Chu, Haiying & Niu, Xiaoxiao & Li, Mou & Wei, Lei, 2025. "Research on the impact of new quality productivity on enterprise ESG performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    11. Zhu, Xiang & Chen, Hongtao & Xiang, Erwei & Qi, Yingjin, 2025. "Digital transformation and corporate green technology transfer: The moderating effect of executive green cognition," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    12. Wu, Hsueh-Liang, 2008. "When does internal governance make firms innovative," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 141-153, February.
    13. Gao, Qiang & Cheng, Changming & Sun, Guanglin, 2023. "Big data application, factor allocation, and green innovation in Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    14. Li, Ying & Dai, Jing & Cui, Li, 2020. "The impact of digital technologies on economic and environmental performance in the context of industry 4.0: A moderated mediation model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    15. Zhao, Nanyang & Hong, Jiangtao & Lau, Kwok Hung, 2023. "Impact of supply chain digitalization on supply chain resilience and performance: A multi-mediation model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    16. Yuan, Baolong & Cao, Xueyun, 2022. "Do corporate social responsibility practices contribute to green innovation? The mediating role of green dynamic capability," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    17. Mounia Boulhaga & Abdelfettah Bouri & Ahmed A. Elamer & Bassam A. Ibrahim, 2023. "Environmental, social and governance ratings and firm performance: The moderating role of internal control quality," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 134-145, January.
    18. Xue, Runhua & Chen, Jiebin, 2025. "ESG performance and stability of New Quality Productivity Forces: From perspective of China's modernization construction," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    19. Yang Yang & Jinmian Han, 2023. "Digital transformation, financing constraints, and corporate environmental, social, and governance performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3189-3202, November.
    20. Wang, Haijun & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Ge, Chen & Sun, Guanglin, 2024. "Corporate ESG rating divergence and excess stock returns," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    21. Wang, Haijun & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Ma, Chao, 2024. "The impact of ESG responsibility performance on corporate resilience," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 1115-1129.
    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. Ma, Defang & Wang, Jindong & Zeng, Bo & Liu, Ying & Xie, Yuze, 2025. "Does digital transformation enhance financial flexibility?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    2. Yuan Zheng & Mazni Abdullah & Nurliana Md Rahin, 2025. "Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance and New Quality Productivity in China: The Mediating Role of Patient Capital," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    3. Liu, Zhe & Liu, Xin & Lan, Kefan & Wang, Haijun & Li, Qihui, 2025. "Can spin-offs enhance corporate market value?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PB).
    4. Hu, Yucen & Wang, Yuxin, 2026. "The impact of ESG rating divergence on supply chain resilience: The threshold effect of corporate information transparency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    5. Xu, Yong & Zhao, Xin & Wang, Jian & Xie, Peijun, 2023. "Clarifying the dispute of corporate social responsibility: Evidence from green technological innovation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Tao Wang & Yang Shen, 2025. "Unlocking the potential of supply chain digitalization for enhancing enterprise green transformation performance: evidence from China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Wang, Haijun & Zhou, Lili & Liu, Xin & Li, Huiyang & Liu, Ying, 2025. "Digital finance and new quality productive force of enterprise: Based on the analysis of enterprise industrial and commercial big data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).
    8. Guo, Xiaofang & Jin, Xingye & Wang, Jingyu & Zuo, Congjiang, 2025. "Corporate integrity culture and debt costs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    9. Gao, Jie & Li, Zhizhuo & Nguyen, Thithuha & Zhang, Wentao, 2025. "Digital transformation and enterprise employment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Yuan Feng & Changfei Nie, 2024. "Digital technology innovation and corporate environmental, social, and governance performance: Evidence from a sample of listed firms in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3836-3854, September.
    11. Li, Ruiqian & Huang, Tong & Ramanathan, Ramakrishnan, 2026. "Turning perception into impact: ESG risk perception and ESG controversies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    12. Ni, Yunsong, 2025. "Data assets and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PF).
    13. Luo, Shuangcheng & Xiong, Zhiqiao & Liu, Jianjiang, 2024. "How does supply chain digitization affect green innovation? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    14. Feng, Lingbing & Qi, Jiajun & Zheng, Yuhao, 2025. "How can AI reduce carbon emissions? Insights from a quasi-natural experiment using generalized random forest," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    15. Yu, Donglei & Wang, Dianyi & Huang, Xiaohuai, 2025. "Digital economy advancement and enterprise productivity transformation: Empirical evidence from Chinese healthcare listed companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    16. Di Luan & Hongjun Cao & Tongkun Qu, 2023. "How Does Corporate Green Innovation Strategy Translate into Green Innovation Performance Based on Chain Mediation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    17. Hu, Jinjin & Huo, Dong & Wu, Delin & Yang, Chunhong, 2025. "The effect of corporate agglomeration networks on breakthrough innovation—Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    18. Zhang, Hanbin & Chen, Yi, 2025. "The role of new quality productivity in driving China's green economic growth," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    19. Jeetu Rana & Yash Daultani & Mohit Goswami & Sushil Kumar, 2025. "Exploring the Impact of Supply Chain Digital Transformation on Supply Chain Performance: An Empirical Investigation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 3497-3521, March.
    20. Zhen Wang & Chunhui Yuan & Xiaolong Li, 2024. "Unleashing the power of big data for platform firms: A configuration analysis," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 45(1), pages 300-314, January.

    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:reveco:v:102:y:2025:i:c:s1059056025004976. 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/620165 .

    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.