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The Application of Industrial Robot and the High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry: From a Sustainability Perspective

Author

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  • Qianqian Guo

    (College of Economics and Finance, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China)

  • Zhifang Su

    (College of Economics and Finance, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, China)

Abstract

Proposing a comprehensive evaluation measure of the high-quality development of manufacturing industry (HQDMI), the purpose of this paper is to explore whether the high-quality development of manufacturing industry (HQDMI) promotes the application of industrial robots (AIR). Evidence shows that, first, the index of HQDMI across regions shows an upward trend from 2008 to 2020. Furthermore, the application of industrial robots significantly increases the high-quality development of manufacturing industry. Our heterogeneity analysis further infers that the positive effect of AIR on HQDMI is more pronounced in wealthy and eastern regions. The mechanism analysis shows that the application of industrial robots can generate the “value-added effect of informatization” and the “resource allocation effect”. The findings provide important theoretical support for the use of industrial robots and the promotion of high-quality development.

Suggested Citation

  • Qianqian Guo & Zhifang Su, 2023. "The Application of Industrial Robot and the High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry: From a Sustainability Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:16:p:12621-:d:1221409
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yuxuan Yang & Haiying Pan, 2024. "The Digital Economy’s Impact on the High-Quality Development of the Manufacturing Industry in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Akpınar, Esra Nur & Çitil, Mücahit & Alofaysan, Hind & Barut, Abdulkadir & Erdem, Azad, 2025. "Robotic transformation and energy transition in China: A new era of innovation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    3. Xie, Jueping & Xue, Canyang & Zhou, Jiaxin & Lei, Huaiying, 2025. "Digital economy on high-quality manufacturing development: a spatial spillover and regional coordination perspective," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    4. Qi Li & Jingyi Hou, 2025. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Industrial Digitalization and High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry: Synchronizing Growth in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 4059-4101, March.
    5. Lingyu Li & Zhichao Liu, 2024. "Sustainable Evolution of China’s Provincial New Quality Productivity Based on Three Dimensions of Multi-Period Development and Combination Weights," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Agnieszka Sękala & Tomasz Blaszczyk & Krzysztof Foit & Gabriel Kost, 2024. "Selected Issues, Methods, and Trends in the Energy Consumption of Industrial Robots," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, January.

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