The impact of new digital infrastructure on total factor productivity in the education service industry: evidence from China

The new digital infrastructure (NDI), including cloud computing and big data, has emerged as a key driver for promoting high-quality development in the education service sector. This study first constructed a dynamic measurement model for total factor productivity (TFP) in the education service sector by employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) combined with the Malmquist index method. Subsequently, based on externality theory and endogenous growth theory, a panel regression model and a mediation effect model were applied to systematically examine the direct and indirect mechanisms through which China's NDI development influences education TFP. Furthermore, a spatial Durbin model was utilized to capture the spatial spillover effects of NDI development on education TFP. The key findings are as follows: While NDI significantly enhances China's education TFP, regional disparities persist due to variations in economic foundations and technological systems, leading to differentiated benefit effects across regions. Among the components of NDI, integrated infrastructure and innovation infrastructure exert the most pronounced positive impact on TFP compared to information infrastructure. Human capital and technological progress play partial mediating roles, while spatial spillovers from neighboring regions exhibit a positive effect on education TFP. These findings underscore the transformative potential of NDI in the education sector and highlight the necessity of formulating region-specific policies and optimizing infrastructure deployment to mitigate regional disparities and maximize productivity growth. This study provides empirical evidence for leveraging strategically deployed NDI to foster educational equity and high-quality development in the digital era.