HOW DOES DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT INFLUENCE URBAN LAND GREEN USE EFFICIENCY? EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

Abstract

Prior literature on the relationship between digitalization and land use has often overlooked the specific role of digital infrastructure development in promoting urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE), particularly from a spatial spillover perspective. To address this gap, this study employs panel data from 282 prefecture-level cities in China between 2006 and 2022. Considering the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, we apply a staggered difference-in-differences method and spatial econometric models to identify whether and how digital infrastructure development affects ULGUE. The empirical results indicate that (i) digital infrastructure development not only significantly enhances local ULGUE but also generates positive spatial spillovers that benefit neighboring areas. (ii) This improvement operates through two major mechanisms: lowering energy use intensity and strengthening urban innovation capacity. (iii) The effect is particularly pronounced in China’s eastern regions, in large-scale cities, and in non-resource-based cities. Our findings provide empirical evidence and practical insights for leveraging digital infrastructure development as a strategic policy to achieve more sustainable and efficient urban landuse systems, contributing to the broader goals of ecological management.