Sci-Tech finance, digital economy and high-quality development of regional economy: empirical evidence from 273 cities in China

This study uses panel data from 273 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2022 to demonstrate that science and technology (Sci-Tech) finance significantly contributes to high-quality development in regional economies. This conclusion remains robust after accounting for endogeneity and robustness tests, including the application of instrumental variable methods. By analyzing the underlying mechanisms, this study indicates that Sci-Tech finance cultivates high-quality economic development by enhancing innovation vigor and driving financial agglomeration. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the positive effects of Sci-Tech finance on economic quality are amplified in regions with high human capital, robust innovation ecosystems, and advanced digital infrastructure. In addition, this study highlights the positive moderating influence of the digital economy on the relationship between Sci-Tech finance and high-quality economic development. The promoting effect of Sci-Tech finance on the high-quality development of the economy has a threshold effect on the level of development of the digital economy. With the continuous development of the digital economy, the impact of Sci-Tech finance on the high-quality development of the economy may experience a process of first weakening and then strengthening, and its impact is nonlinear.