How Does the Pilot Information Consumption Policy Affect Urban Carbon Productivity? Quasi-Experimental Evidence from 275 Chinese Cities

Digital consumption, driven by the widespread application of information technology, has led to more efficient resource allocation and industrial structure optimization. This promotes green transformation and has a positive impact on carbon productivity. This research examined 275 cities across China, employing a difference-in-differences approach alongside the national information consumption pilot policy to carry out a quasi-natural experiment. The study found that the information consumption pilot policy enhances carbon productivity at the 1% significance level. After controlling for other variables, the regions affected by the information consumption policy saw an increase in carbon productivity that was 0.233 higher than in the regions that were not affected. This growth reflects the positive impact of the information consumption pilot policy or measures on carbon productivity. Meanwhile, the increase in technological resources and the transformation of the industrial framework encouraged by the policy indirectly promote the development of carbon productivity. The information consumption pilot policy promotes technological innovation and increases resource density, leading to more efficient technology application and resource allocation. It also drives industrial structure optimization, particularly accelerating the development of low-carbon industries, thereby effectively enhancing carbon productivity. This study provides theoretical and empirical references for the promotion of carbon productivity through digital consumption.