Integration of Informatization and Industrialization: Driving Urban Green Innovation through Policy Insights

Utilizing prefecture-level data from China covering the period from 2003 to 2019, this study examines the effect of the “Two Integrations” policy, which aims to promote the integration of informatization and industrialization in pilot cities, on green innovation. By employing a multi-period difference-in-differences approach, the findings indicate that this policy has a significantly positive impact on green innovation. This effect is primarily driven by enhanced economic agglomeration and improved productive services. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the policy’s influence is more pronounced in cities characterized by low energy-dependency, robust information infrastructure, and an advanced industrial structure. These findings provide insights into the practical implications of this specific experimental zone policy in China.