The effect of social sphere digitalization on green total factor productivity in China: Evidence from a dynamic spatial Durbin model

Digitalization has been the new engine of development that drives the regional economy, but scant empirical studies investigate the linkage between the social sphere digitalization and green total factor productivity (GTFP). Based on the quantitative and comprehensive index of digitalization development, the study calculates the digital economy from the social sphere in China's 279 cities between 2011 and 2019. Besides, the impact of social sphere digitalization on GTFP is examined using the dynamic spatial Durbin model (SDM). The basic results show that the development of the digital economy in the social sphere positively influences the growth of GTFP, and there is a spatial spillover effect. Specifically, the 1% increase in social sphere digitalization will bring a 0.0705% increase in GTFP. Furthermore, influencing mechanisms of the digital economy on GTFP are examined, namely industrial structure upgrading, human capital, and technological invention effects. Last, the heterogeneity analyses show that the influencing intensity is different in Eastern, Middle, and Western cities as well as in resource-based and non-resource-based cities. Our findings provide new evidence for the relationship between the social sphere digitalization and green development, and also give managerial implications for other cities or countries that are seeking energy and emission-reduction measures. •The impact of social sphere digitalization on green total factor productivity is explored for the period 2011–2019 using the dynamic spatial Durbin model.•Influencing mechanisms of social sphere digitalization on green total factor productivity are investigated, namely, industrial structure upgrading, human capital, and technological invention effects.•The study proves that social sphere digitalization can stimulate green development both in local and surrounding areas, and the 1% increase in the social sphere digitalization will bring a 0.0705% increase in GTFP.•The results indicate heterogeneous effects. The influencing intensity of digitalization in the social sphere on green total factor productivity is different in Eastern, Middle, and Western cities as well as in resource-based and non-resource-based cities.