Can Public Data Opening Improve Green Total Factor Productivity?—A Quasi‐Natural Experiment Based on the Opening of Chinese Government Public Data Platforms

ABSTRACT The opening of public data is a necessary condition for the high‐quality development of the digital economy and an important driver for improving green total factor productivity (GTFP) and achieving green and low‐carbon economic development. This paper uses the establishment of public data open platforms in Chinese cities as a quasi‐natural experiment and conducts an empirical analysis using panel data from 280 cities from 2006 to 2021, employing a multi‐period difference‐in‐differences model to examine whether public data openness can improve GTFP. The study finds that public data openness significantly enhances GTFP, and this conclusion is robust to a battery of robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that pilot policies have a stronger effect on improving GTFP in cities with non‐resource‐based economies, high levels of digital economy development, and strong innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities. Mechanism analysis indicates that public data openness can improve GTFP by promoting urban green technology innovation and optimizing the energy consumption structure. The research conclusions are of great significance for relevant departments in formulating public data policies and energy utilization strategies.