Can Big Data Pilot Zones Empower the Development of New Quality Productivity?

The development of new quality productivity (NQP) is a crucial driving force for promoting high-quality economic development, and the study of its drivers is vital for socio-economic development. Therefore, this paper examines the establishment of national big data pilot zones (BDPZs) as a quasi-natural experiment, based on the data of 284 cities in China from 2014 to 2022, using the difference-in-differences (DID) method and the mediation effect model, and empirically analyzes the impact effects and transmission channels of the establishment of BDPZs on NQP. The study finds that: (1) the establishment of BDPZs has a significant impact on improving the level of NQP in pilot zones, and the conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests; (2) Mechanism analysis demonstrates that the establishment of BDPZs enhances the development of NQP by advancing the development of digital inclusive finance and fostering green technological innovation; (3) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the establishment of BDPZs helps to promote the level of NQP in key cities and non-resource cities. This study not only enriches the theoretical framework between the establishment of BDPZs and NQP, but also reinforces the positive impact of data factors on NQP, while providing significant policy implications for advancing high-quality economic development.