Can New Infrastructure Become a New Driving Force for High-Quality Industrial Development in the Yellow River Basin?

Ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin have become a major national strategy in China. This paper explores the impact and mechanisms of new infrastructure on high-quality industrial development in the Yellow River Basin, considering the current context of vigorous development of new infrastructure and the industrial development status of the region. This study finds that new infrastructure promotes high-quality industrial development in the Yellow River Basin, and the enhancement of digital literacy strengthens this positive impact. New infrastructure facilitates high-quality industrial development in the Yellow River Basin by driving labor transfer from the supply side and consumption upgrading from the demand side. This positive influence is particularly pronounced in the upstream cities, central cities, and urbanized areas of the Yellow River Basin. Further research indicates that there is a “pain period” in promoting the construction of new infrastructure, and only when the level of high-quality industrial development exceeds a certain threshold can its efficiency be further improved. The conclusions of this paper provide theoretical references and policy inspiration for the coordinated promotion of new infrastructure construction to empower high-quality industrial development in the Yellow River Basin.