Impact of New Quality Productive Forces on the High-Quality Development of the Construction Industry: Evidence from China

Introduction. Recognised as an emerging and advanced mode of productivity, new quality productive forces (NQPF) have significantly contributed to the development of various industries. Investigating their influence on the high-quality development of the construction industry (HDCI) can offer theoretical support and practical guidance for the transformation and upgrading of the industry. This includes improving quality and efficiency, advancing green development, and promoting sustainable practices. Such efforts are of great significance for the high-quality development of the national economy. Aim and tasks. This study aims to develop an index system for assessing the impact of new quality productive forces on the high-quality development of the construction industry, and empirically examines their relationship within the context of industrial structure modernisation. Results. The regression coefficient of NQPF on HDCI was 0.293, and all regression results remained positive after the sequential inclusion of the control variables. The regression coefficient of NQPF on industrial structure upgrading was 0.056, whereas the regression coefficients of NQPF and industrial structure upgrading on HDCI were 0.201 and 0.256, respectively. A bootstrap test involving 1,000 resampling iterations was performed, and the resulting confidence interval was [0.0005, 0.0406], which does not include zero. The results of the regional heterogeneity analysis indicate that the positive effect of NQPF on HDCI was strongest in the eastern region (0.348), followed by the western region (0.132), with the impact on the central region being statistically insignificant. After applying the robustness checks, all regression results remained positive and statistically significant at the 1% level. Conclusions. This study develops a framework for analysing the impact of NQPF on HDCI and provides recommendations for the forthcoming construction industry and related policy research. Under the NQPF policy framework, the impetus to promote high-quality development of China’s economy and construction industry is reasonably policy-driven, featuring industrial upgrading and regional optimisation in synergy with technological popularisation. Policy choices under the NQPF regarding China’s construction industry and the high-quality development of its economy are of critical importance. Moreover, they further contribute to the promotion and enhancement of environmental sustainability.