Fintech empowerment and the new-quality productivity of enterprises: empirical evidence from Chinese listed companies

Fintech (Financial technology) serves as a critical enabler for achieving the digitalization and intelligent transformation of the economy and society. In an era where new-quality productivity (NQP) has emerged as a key driver of high-quality development, what role does fintech play in advancing NQP within enterprises? Building on the fundamental meaning and essential characteristics of NQP, this study constructs enterprise-level NQP indicators and utilizes 2011–2023 data in Chinese A-share listed companies to investigate whether fintech can improve NQP in enterprises. The findings reveal that fintech significantly increases the level of NQP in enterprises, which manifests in three key ways. First, fintech expands preemptive financing channels for enterprises, alleviating the pressures of financing constraints. Second, it strengthens post-funding oversight, improving the efficiency of green investments. Third, it increases enthusiasm for corporate innovation, driving a dual improvement in both the quantity and the quality of green innovation and ultimately catalyzing the development of NQP. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that the positive impact of fintech on NQP development is more pronounced for companies with strong ESG performance, those with executives with green environmental experience, and those located in regions with a high concentration of financial institutions. In conclusion, within the new development paradigm centered on NQP, leveraging fintech’s empowering role in green development and stimulating corporate enthusiasm for NQP innovation are pivotal for advancing high-quality economic growth.