Policy Effect on Technology Innovation in Prefabricated Buildings: An Empirical Study Using the Difference-in-Differences Approach

Technology innovation in prefabricated buildings (PBs) is an important way to realize transformation upgrading and green development for the construction industry. The existing literature focuses on the influence of different types of policies on PB development while ignoring the importance of technology innovation. In addition, there are still inconsistent conclusions in the evaluation of the influence of policies on technology innovation. Using the difference-in-differences method and panel data from 2011 to 2020 covering 25 provinces of China, this study investigates the mechanism and impact of five different technological and economic policies on PB technology innovation. The results show that technological support policy, land supply policy, fiscal subsidy policy, and preferential tax policy have a significantly positive impact on PB technology innovation. However, financial policy has no significant effect on PB technology innovation. This paper not only makes theoretical contributions to PB policy research, but also provides the government with a more precise and effective policy toolbox to promote technology innovation in the PB industry or other industries.