Journal of Northeastern University(Social Science) ›› 2026, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (1): 1-14.DOI: 10.15936/j.cnki.1008-3758.2026.01.001

   

Digital Economy and Regional Manufacturing Structure Upgrading: Pathways and Mechanisms

Canfei HE1,2, Sheng JIANG3, Xinpeng WANG3   

  1. 1.College of Urban and Environmental Sciences,Peking University,Beijing 100871,China
    2.Peking University-Lincoln Institute Center for Urban Development and Land Policy,Beijing 100871,China
    3.School of Public Policy & Management,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China
  • Received:2025-09-28 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2026-01-27

Abstract:

Vigorously developing the digital economy is a critical task for accelerating the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse,while enhancing innovation performance is an important measure to promote the upgrading of China’s manufacturing structure. Based on China’s provincial panel data and data from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies for the period 2011-2020,this study employs spatial simultaneous equations and the generalized spatial three-stage least squares (GS3SLS) to empirically analyze the pathways and mechanisms through which the digital economy influences the upgrading of the manufacturing structure. The research findings indicate that,in terms of pathways,the digital economy not only impacts local manufacturing structure upgrading but also exhibits significant spatial spillover effects,indirectly driving the structural upgrading of manufacturing in neighboring regions. In terms of mechanisms,the digital economy promotes manufacturing structure upgrading by enhancing the scale efficiency of innovation.

Key words: digital economy, manufacturing structure upgrading, regional high-quality development, spatial simultaneous equations

CLC Number: