IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0293474.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Micro-perspective of listed companies in China: Digital development promotes the green transformation of the manufacturing industry

Author

Listed:
  • Haohui Wang
  • Lunwen Wu
  • Gang Peng
  • Hongmei Du

Abstract

In the context of the rapid development of the global digital economy, it is of great significance to explore the greening transformation of the manufacturing industry from the micro-perspective of enterprise digital development. This paper empirically examines the impact and mechanism of enterprise digital development on the greening transformation of the manufacturing industry using the 2010–2020 data of Chinese A-share listed companies in the manufacturing industry as a sample. The study shows that enterprise digital development can significantly promote the greening transformation of China’s manufacturing industry, and this conclusion still holds after a series of robustness tests. Technological innovation and financing constraints are important mediating mechanisms. Further research found that the impact of enterprise digital development on the greening transformation of China’s manufacturing industry has a positive nonlinear effect, and its marginal effect shows a weakening trend. Heterogeneity analysis shows that, from the perspective of micro characteristics, digital development is more able to promote the green transformation of state-owned and large enterprises. From a macro-regional perspective, digital development can better promote the green transformation of the manufacturing industry in eastern cities, key city clusters, and high-level cities. The findings of this paper can provide corresponding insights for "revitalizing the manufacturing industry", and also provide decision-making references for countries aiming to make the manufacturing industry bigger and stronger.

Suggested Citation

  • Haohui Wang & Lunwen Wu & Gang Peng & Hongmei Du, 2023. "Micro-perspective of listed companies in China: Digital development promotes the green transformation of the manufacturing industry," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(10), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0293474
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293474
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293474
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0293474&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0293474?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hansen, Bruce E., 1999. "Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: Estimation, testing, and inference," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 345-368, December.
    2. Ran, Qiying & Yang, Xiaodong & Yan, Hongchuan & Xu, Yang & Cao, Jianhong, 2023. "Natural resource consumption and industrial green transformation: Does the digital economy matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    3. Meng, Conghui & Du, Xiaoyun & Zhu, Mengcheng & Ren, Yitian & Fang, Kai, 2023. "The static and dynamic carbon emission efficiency of transport industry in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    4. Chen, Lifeng & Wang, Kaifeng, 2022. "The spatial spillover effect of low-carbon city pilot scheme on green efficiency in China's cities: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    5. Georgi Dimov Kerpedzhiev & Ulrich Matthias König & Maximilian Röglinger & Michael Rosemann, 2021. "An Exploration into Future Business Process Management Capabilities in View of Digitalization," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 63(2), pages 83-96, April.
    6. Li, Chengming & Huo, Peng & Wang, Zeyu & Zhang, Weiguang & Liang, Feiyan & Mardani, Abbas, 2023. "Digitalization generates equality? Enterprises’ digital transformation, financing constraints, and labor share in China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Ma, Dan & Zhu, Qing, 2022. "Innovation in emerging economies: Research on the digital economy driving high-quality green development," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 801-813.
    8. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Chang, Yu-Fang & Wang, En-Ze, 2022. "Crossing the rivers by feeling the stones: The effect of China's green credit policy on manufacturing firms' carbon emission intensity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Luo, Yadong & Bu, Juan, 2016. "How valuable is information and communication technology? A study of emerging economy enterprises," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 200-211.
    10. Chuanlin Wang & Guowan Yan & Juan Ou, 2023. "Does Digitization Promote Green Innovation? Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-27, February.
    11. Zhang, Bingbing & Yu, Lan & Sun, Chuanwang, 2022. "How does urban environmental legislation guide the green transition of enterprises? Based on the perspective of enterprises' green total factor productivity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    12. Wang, Jianlong & Wang, Weilong & Wu, Haitao & Liu, Yong, 2023. "Exploring the effects of manufacturing servitization on enterprise energy conservation and emissions reduction moderated by digital transformation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    13. Du, Juntao & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & Zhang, Linda, 2023. "Nexus between digital transformation and energy technology innovation: An empirical test of A-share listed enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Chen, Yang & Yang, Shengping & Li, Quan, 2022. "How does the development of digital financial inclusion affect the total factor productivity of listed companies? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    15. Wen, Huwei & Zhong, Qiming & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "Digitalization, competition strategy and corporate innovation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing listed companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. Maoyan She & Die Hu & Zhiwei Wang & Xuan Zhao, 2023. "Does religious atmosphere promote corporate green innovation performance? Evidence from China," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 1506-1531, October.
    17. Wang, Qingxi & Hu, An & Tian, Zhihua, 2022. "Digital transformation and electricity consumption: Evidence from the Broadband China pilot policy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    18. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Qin, Shuai & Li, Yaya, 2022. "Does industrial robot application promote green technology innovation in the manufacturing industry?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(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. She, Yanan & Wang, Huan & Zhen, Shangsong & Peng, Yue & Wang, Wei & Liu, Yunqiang, 2025. "Two-way empowerment or one-way game? The impact of data factor endowment matching on enterprises’ green efficiency," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    2. Li, Haichao & Su, Yuqi & Ding, Chante Jian & Tian, Gary Gang & Wu, Zhan, 2024. "Unveiling the green innovation paradox: Exploring the impact of carbon emission reduction on corporate green technology innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    3. Ran, Qiying & Yang, Xiaodong & Yan, Hongchuan & Xu, Yang & Cao, Jianhong, 2023. "Natural resource consumption and industrial green transformation: Does the digital economy matter?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    4. Li, Longda, 2024. "The environmental spillovers of buyers' digital transformation: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    5. Suo, Xuekun & Zhang, Longting & Guo, Rong & Lin, Han & Yu, Mingchuan & Du, Xiuhong, 2024. "The inverted U-shaped association between digital economy and corporate total factor productivity: A knowledge-based perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    6. Ding, Jian & Liu, Baoliu & Shao, Xuefeng, 2022. "Spatial effects of industrial synergistic agglomeration and regional green development efficiency: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. Peng Liang & Xinhui Sun, 2024. "Does digital transformation promote the green innovation of China’s listed companies?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 22199-22235, September.
    8. Yang, Hefan & Liu, Xilu & Meng, Yao & Feng, Baoyi & Chen, Zhijun, 2024. "Digital transformation and the allocation of decision-making rights within business groups – Empirical evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    9. Ai, Mingye & Zhang, Wei & Du, Shurong & Yu, Xiaohan & Bu, Yan, 2024. "The impact of digitalization on the green transformation of China's industrial sectors: The mediating role of green technology innovation and technological transformation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PC).
    10. Wang, Shucui & Peng, Ting & Du, Anna Min & Lin, Xiaohui, 2025. "The impact of the digital economy on rural industrial revitalization," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    11. Wang, Pengmian & Zhao, Tao, 2024. "Impact of population aging on corporate digital transformation strategies: An empirical investigation based on population census data from various provinces in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    12. Ge, Yuanqin & Xia, Yifan & Wang, Tongyu, 2024. "Digital economy, data resources and enterprise green technology innovation: Evidence from A-listed Chinese Firms," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    13. Dong, Hao & Zheng, Yingrong & Tang, Yuhong, 2024. "Impact of FinTech on the industrial structural transformation: Evidence from China's resource-based cities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(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. Huang, Yuhong & Gao, Yajia, 2024. "The impact of financial technology on employment: Protection or disruption?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    16. Zhao, Shuang & Zhang, Liqun & Peng, Lin & Zhou, Haiyan & Hu, Feng, 2024. "Enterprise pollution reduction through digital transformation? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    17. Shao, Yanmin & Xu, Kunliang & Shan, Yuan George, 2024. "Leveraging corporate digitalization for green technology innovation: The mediating role of resource endowments," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    18. Mou, Kefen & Xu, Bing, 2024. "Digital finance, government regulation, and corporate capital market efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    19. Cui, Kai & Yang, Wen, 2025. "The digital economy and the resilience of enterprise exports: Supply chain stability as a mediator," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    20. Ma, Jing & Li, Qing & Zhao, Qiuyun & Liou, Jennhae & Li, Chen, 2024. "From bytes to green: The impact of supply chain digitization on corporate green innovation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).

    More about this item

    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:plo:pone00:0293474. 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: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    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.