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Improving business environment quality through online government service integration: A quasi-natural experiment in China

Author

Listed:
  • Lei, Yuqiong
  • Liang, Xiaoming
  • Liu, Zhanyu

Abstract

Online Government Service Integration (OGSI) significantly contributes to enhancing public service efficiency and business environment quality (BEQ). Using the establishment of “Internet Plus Government Service” platforms as an empirical entry point, this study examines the effect, mechanisms, and boundary conditions of OGSI on BEQ through a staggered difference-in-differences approach with data from 293 Chinese cities (2010–2022). Our analysis reveals that OGSI improves BEQ through three distinct mechanisms: enhanced administrative efficiency, optimized service speed, and strengthened information supply. Boundary conditions analysis shows that these effects demonstrate greater magnitude in eastern regions, non-resource-based cities, and localities where governments allocate higher attention to OGSI implementation. Further analysis at the firm level confirms that OGSI's enhancement of BEQ manifests as improved corporate performance, with particularly pronounced benefits for non-state-owned and small to medium-sized enterprises. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing digital governance innovation to enhance business environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei, Yuqiong & Liang, Xiaoming & Liu, Zhanyu, 2026. "Improving business environment quality through online government service integration: A quasi-natural experiment in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:103:y:2026:i:c:s0038012125002265
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2025.102377
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