IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i15p6844-d1711607.html

Internal Mechanism and Empirical Analysis of Digital Economy’s Impact on Agricultural New Quality Productive Forces: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Yongsheng Xu

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ying Zhang

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Siqing Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Mingzheng Zhao

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Guifang Li

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Yu Kang

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

  • Cuiping Zhao

    (College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China)

Abstract

Agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs) signify the progressive trajectory of modern agriculture. However, their development encounters significant challenges in many nations. The digital economy, characterized by its strong innovative capacity, offers continuous impetus for advancing agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs). Based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2014–2023), this study employs a two-way fixed-effects model, mediation and threshold effect analyses, and a spatial Durbin model to comprehensively assess the influence of the digital economy (DE) on agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs). The findings reveal that (1) the digital economy (DE) significantly enhances the advancement of agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs); (2) while its positive effect is pronounced in eastern, central, and western China, the impact is weaker in the northeastern region; (3) rural financial development (RFD) acts as a mediator in the relationship between digital economy (DE) growth and agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs); (4) the digital economy (DE)’s contribution to agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs) demonstrates non-linear trends; and (5) spatially, while the digital economy (DE) boosts the local agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs), it exerts a negative spillover effect on neighboring areas. This research offers fresh empirical insights into the determinants of agricultural new quality productive forces (ANQPFs) and suggests policy measures to support agricultural modernization.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongsheng Xu & Ying Zhang & Siqing Wang & Mingzheng Zhao & Guifang Li & Yu Kang & Cuiping Zhao, 2025. "Internal Mechanism and Empirical Analysis of Digital Economy’s Impact on Agricultural New Quality Productive Forces: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6844-:d:1711607
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6844/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/15/6844/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dong, Kangyin & Liu, Yang & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Xiucheng, 2024. "Is the digital economy an effective tool for decreasing energy vulnerability? A global case," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    2. Albérico Travassos Rosário & Joana Carmo Dias, 2023. "The New Digital Economy and Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Horvey, Sylvester Senyo & Odei-Mensah, Jones & Moloi, Tankiso & Bokpin, Godfred A., 2024. "Digital economy, financial development and energy transition in Africa: Exploring for synergies and nonlinearities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PB).
    4. Hwang, Young Kyu & Venter, Alanda, 2025. "The impact of the digital economy and institutional quality in promoting low-carbon energy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C).
    5. Bingjing Mei & Arshad Ahmad Khan & Sufyan Ullah Khan & Muhammad Abu Sufyan Ali & Jianchao Luo, 2022. "Complementarity or Substitution: A Study of the Impacts of Internet Finance and Rural Financial Development on Agricultural Economic Growth," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Sukoluhle Mazwane & Moraka N. Makhura & Mmapatla P. Senyolo, 2022. "Important Policy Parameters for the Development of Inclusive Digital Agriculture: Implications for the Redistributive Land Reform Program in South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, December.
    7. Jun Yang & Fenglong Tan, 2025. "Exploring the progress of global digital economy research: a bibliometric study via R-tool," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 5447-5477, March.
    8. Yiwei Wang, 2024. "Digital Financial Capability and Entrepreneurship in China: A Digital Economy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-18, August.
    9. Rehman, Naqeeb Ur & Nunziante, Giulia, 2023. "The effect of the digital economy on total factor productivity in European regions," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10).
    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. Zheng, Mingbo & Zhang, Xinyu, 2025. "Digitalization and renewable energy development: Analysis based on cross-country panel data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    2. Bingjie Liu & Fengyi Wang, 2025. "The Impact of the Global Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-22, May.
    3. Mazwane, Sukoluhle & Makhura, Moraka N. & Senyolo, Mmapatla P. & Ginige, Athula, 2023. "Value-chain digitalization and adoption intention by Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS) farmers in the Eastern Cape Province South Africa," 2023 Seventh AAAE/60th AEASA Conference, September 18-21, 2023, Durban, South Africa 365888, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    4. Huang, Zhehao & Dong, Hao & Liu, Zhaofei & Albitar, Khaldoon, 2025. "Unleashing the empowered effect of data resource on inclusive green growth: Based on double machine learning," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1270-1290.
    5. Yunsong Xu & Shanfei Zhang, 2025. "Digital Finance, New Quality Productive Forces, and Government Environmental Governance: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Provincial Panel Data," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-30, July.
    6. Zhang, Linyan & Hu, Chunyu & Guo, Chuanyin & Wang, Jianguo, 2024. "Digital economy, technical change and total factor productivity: Empirical evidence from high-tech industry in China," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9).
    7. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos & Rannveig Björk Thorkelsdóttir & Despoina Schina & Jóna Guðrún Jónsdóttir, 2023. "Teachers’ Experience and Perceptions of Sustainable Digitalization in School Education: An Existential Phenomenological Study of Teachers in Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Iceland, and The Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Zhu, Qingyuan & Sun, Chenhao & Xu, Chengzhen & Geng, Qianqian, 2025. "The impact of artificial intelligence on global energy vulnerability," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 15-27.
    9. Dong, Kangyin & Yang, Senmiao & Wang, Jianda & Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2024. "Does Geopolitical Risk Accelerate Climate Vulnerability? New Evidence from the European Green Deal," Working Papers 15-2024, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Economics.
    10. Serrecchia, Michela, 2024. "Analysis of Internet development and internal digital divide by using the “.it” domain names as an indicator: Evidence from Italy," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(10).
    11. Ge, Shilong & Luo, Xiaodan & Li, Yuangang & Zheng, Lanxing, 2024. "The impact of green credit policy on total factor productivity of enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    12. Yang, Senmiao & Jiang, Wanxin & Wang, Jianda, 2025. "How does ICT agglomeration promote green technology innovation? Evidence from Yangtze River Delta in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Liu, Yiling & Lin, Yu-Cheng, 2025. "Converting knowledge into Productivity: The role of intellectual property empowerment and digital economy in enhancing regional new quality productivity forces - Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    14. Gao, Lan & Wang, Jing, 2025. "Can artificial intelligence reduce energy vulnerability? Evidence from an international perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    15. Gong, Qinyi & Zhang, Rui, 2025. "Digital finance as a catalyst for energy transition and sustainable rural economic growth," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    16. Han, Qiujie & Wang, Fei & Wang, Yushi & Guo, Feng, 2025. "How supply chain and digitalization are significant contributors to international trade? The role of renewable and energy intensity in global trade powerhouses' economies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    17. Zhang, Zhenhua & Wu, Huangbin & Zhang, Yunpeng & Hu, Shilei & Pan, Yuxi & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "Does digital global value chain participation reduce energy resilience? Evidence from 49 countries worldwide," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    18. Zhu, Minjing & Zhu, Lei, 2024. "Digitalization of the economy and sustainability of metallic mineral production," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    19. Wei Jiang & Xiaoyong Wu & Qili Yu & Mingming Leng, 2025. "How Does the Digital Economy Affect Carbon Emissions? Evidence from Panel Smooth Transition Regression Model," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 9219-9245, June.
    20. Mbate, Michael & Fall, El Hadji, 2025. "Financial inclusion and energy access: Evidence from Kenya," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(2).

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6844-:d:1711607. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.