IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/reveco/v98y2025ics1059056025000176.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digital infrastructure and economic growth: Evidence from corporate investment efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Ziqi
  • Peng, Dan
  • Kong, Qunxi
  • Tan, Feifei

Abstract

This study empirically examines the influence of digital infrastructure development on corporate investment efficiency within the context of the Broadband China policy. The study analyses a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2021 using a difference-in-differences model, supplemented by propensity score matching and the IV methodology to assess the policy's effects on inefficient investment, overinvestment, and underinvestment. The findings indicate that the Broadband China policy significantly enhances corporate investment efficiency by mitigating the negative effects of inefficient investment and overinvestment behaviors. The effects are more pronounced in regions with more developed infrastructure. The heterogeneity analysis reveals considerable variation in the policy's impact between provincial capitals and non-capital cities, with firms located in provincial capitals deriving greater benefits from the policy. The mechanism analysis demonstrates that management efficiency mediates the policy's influence on corporate investment behavior. These findings provide theoretical and empirical support for the government's efforts to refine its digital infrastructure policies and optimize regional economic development strategies. Based on the results, we propose differentiated policy recommendations to enhance management efficiency through digital infrastructure development and address regional disparities. Future research could expand the dataset and investigate the broader implications of digital infrastructure on other corporate behaviors, such as innovation capacity and market competitiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ziqi & Peng, Dan & Kong, Qunxi & Tan, Feifei, 2025. "Digital infrastructure and economic growth: Evidence from corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s1059056025000176
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2025.103854
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059056025000176
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.iref.2025.103854?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. 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).
    2. Yu, Li & Ma, Tiemeng & Wu, Sirong & Lyu, Zhuoyang, 2023. "How does broadband internet affect firm-level labor misallocation: The role of information frictions," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Kong, Qunxi & Peng, Dan & Ni, Yehui & Jiang, Xinyue & Wang, Ziqi, 2021. "Trade openness and economic growth quality of China: Empirical analysis using ARDL model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    4. 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.
    5. Avi Goldfarb & Catherine E. Tucker, 2011. "Privacy Regulation and Online Advertising," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(1), pages 57-71, January.
    6. Peng, Nianjiao & Wen, Manhong & Tian, Xiujuan & Wu, Xiaxue, 2024. "The impact of digital finance on firm's inefficient investment: Evidence from Chinese A-share listed companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    7. Mao, Yihuan & Hu, Ning & Leng, Tiecheng & Liu, Ying, 2024. "Digital economy, innovation, and firm value: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    8. Song, Shuxin & Wen, Jun & Li, Yan & Li, Lingxiao, 2024. "How does digital economy affect green technological innovation in China? New evidence from the “Broadband China” policy," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1093-1112.
    9. Zhang, Dongyang & Kong, Qunxi, 2022. "Do energy policies bring about corporate overinvestment? Empirical evidence from Chinese listed companies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    10. Li, Xing & Yang, Gang & Shao, Tihang & Yang, Dan & Liu, Zimin, 2024. "Does digital infrastructure promote individual entrepreneurship? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment on the “Broadband China” strategy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    11. Otarbayeva, Aina B. & Arupov, Akimzhan A. & Abaidullayeva, Madina M. & Dadabayeva, Dardana M. & Khajiyeva, Gulzhakhan U., 2024. "Investment cooperation as a digital economy development method for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the EU," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    12. David H. Autor, 2019. "Work of the Past, Work of the Future," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 1-32, May.
    13. Jin, Xin & Ma, Baojie & Zhang, Haifeng, 2023. "Impact of fast internet access on employment: Evidence from a broadband expansion in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    14. Gu, Qiankun & Song, Zilong & Sun, Yiyuan (Ian) & Yu, Xiaoou, 2024. "Digital infrastructure investment and corporate debt concentration: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    15. Zhang, Wenzhe & Liu, Guangqiang, 2023. "Digitalization and firm centralization: A quasi-natural experiment based on the “Broadband China” policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    16. Zhou, Kuo & Wang, Qiaochu & Tao, Yunqing & Li, Xiaofan, 2024. "Information infrastructure construction and firm export performance in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    17. Kong, Qunxi & Wu, Peipei & Wang, Ziqi, 2024. "Outward foreign direct investment operation modes and reverse technology spillovers: Implications for the quality of economic growth," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1628-1639.
    18. Yue Cao & Yizhe Dong & Yu Lu & Diandian Ma, 2020. "Does Institutional Ownership Improve Firm Investment Efficiency?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2772-2792, September.
    19. Cao, Hong & Guo, Litian & Zhang, Lin, 2020. "Does oil price uncertainty affect renewable energy firms’ investment? Evidence from listed firms in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    20. Xu, Chang & Jin, Long, 2024. "Effects of government digitalization on firm investment efficiency: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 819-834.
    21. Yue Cao & Yizhe Dong & Yu Lu & Diandian Ma, 2020. "Does Institutional Ownership Improve Firm Investment Efficiency?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2772-2792, September.
    22. Zhai, Jun & Zhang, Siyuan & Yang, Xuan, 2024. "Financial subsidies, digital finance, and corporate industrial investment level," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    23. Wang, Bin & Wang, Liang & Gong, Bairong & Yan, Zhengwei & Hu, Pan, 2023. "Does broadband internet infrastructure mitigate firm-level economic policy uncertainty? Evidence from the Broadband China Pilot Policy," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    24. Chen Gao & Ya Wen & Deyong Yang, 2022. "Governance, financial development and China’s outward foreign direct investment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(6), pages 1-22, June.
    25. Liu, Qiongzhi & Li, Renke & Wang, Yuqin, 2024. "Digital finance and capital mobility: Evidence from cross-regional investment of listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    26. Wang, Ziqi & Li, Rongrong & Kong, Qunxi, 2024. "Shanghai oil futures prices and firms' investment decisions: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    27. Zhang, Liangliang & Tao, Yunqing & Nie, Cong, 2022. "Does broadband infrastructure boost firm productivity? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    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. Wang, Ziqi & Li, Rongrong & Kong, Qunxi, 2024. "Shanghai oil futures prices and firms' investment decisions: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Qunxi Kong & Rongrong Li & Y. Ni & Dan Peng, 2022. "Does China’s green economic recovery generate a spatial convergence trend: an explanation using agglomeration effects and fiscal instruments," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2499-2526, November.
    3. Peng, Dan & Ji, Y. & Kong, Qunxi, 2023. "OFDI and firms' sustainable productive capacity: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 641-652.
    4. 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).
    5. Li, Donghui & Li, Yuan & Yuan, Chun, 2025. "Broadband policy and bank loans," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. repec:osf:socarx:wnd8t_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Tom Kemeny & Michael Storper, 2024. "The Changing Shape of Spatial Income Disparities in the United States," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 100(1), pages 1-30, January.
    8. Kangjuan Lv & Jiaqi Li & Ye Zhao, 2023. "Can Internet Construction Promote Urban Green Development? A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the “Broadband China”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Tao, Miaomiao & Wang, Jianda, 2025. "Harnessing the web: County-level perspectives on China's green economy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    10. Wu, Jiayi & Lai, Aolin & Li, Zhenran & Wang, Qunwei, 2024. "Investment efficiency of renewable energy enterprises when exposed to air pollution: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PC).
    11. Tillaguango, Brayan & Hossain, Mohammad Razib & Cuesta, Lizeth & Ahmad, Munir & Alvarado, Rafael & Murshed, Muntasir & Rehman, Abdul & Işık, Cem, 2024. "Impact of oil price, economic globalization, and inflation on economic output: Evidence from Latin American oil-producing countries using the quantile-on-quantile approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    12. Sule, Abubakar & Mohammed, Ibrahim Danlami & Ebeh, Eleojo Joy, 2023. "Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness and Economic Performance in Nigeria: Does Governance Quality Matter?," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 11(3), June.
    13. Xianpu Xu & Qiqi Meng & Jing Huang, 2025. "Identifying the Impact of New Digital Infrastructure on Urban Energy Consumption: Evidence from the Broadband China Strategy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, February.
    14. Osarumwense Osabuohien-Irabor & Igor Mikhailovich Drapkin, 2022. "The Impact of Technological Innovation on Energy Consumption in OECD Economies: the role of Outward Foreign Direct Investment and International Trade Openness," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(4), pages 317-333, July.
    15. Zhang, Dongyang & Bai, Dingchuan & He, Yurun & Sun, Qiaobing, 2024. "Synergistic abatement effects of Broadband China and environmental regulation: Firm-level evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    16. Amir Iqbal & Xuan Tang & Samma Faiz Rasool, 2023. "Investigating the nexus between CO2 emissions, renewable energy consumption, FDI, exports and economic growth: evidence from BRICS countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 2234-2263, March.
    17. Lin, Boqiang & Xie, Yongjing, 2024. "How feed-in-tariff subsidies affect renewable energy investments in China? New evidence from firm-level data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    18. Lv, Kangjuan & Zheng, Heyun & Ge, Liming, 2025. "Digital empowerment to reduce air pollution: The impact of urban network infrastructure construction on PM2.5," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    19. Riza Radmehr & Ernest Baba Ali & Samira Shayanmehr & Sayed Saghaian & Elham Darbandi & Ebenezer Agbozo & Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie, 2022. "Assessing the Global Drivers of Sustained Economic Development: The Role of Trade Openness, Financial Development, and FDI," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    20. Kemeny, Tom & Storper, Michael, 2022. "The changing shape of spatial inequality in the United States," SocArXiv wnd8t, Center for Open Science.
    21. Kong, Qunxi & Wang, Ziqi & Wu, Peipei & Peng, Dan, 2025. "Climate policy uncertainty and synergistic industrial agglomeration: What role does financial development play?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 152(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:reveco:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s1059056025000176. 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.