Green development benefits of infrastructure construction poverty alleviation in poverty-stricken areas

Infrastructure construction is a prerequisite for economic growth in poverty-stricken areas, and infrastructure construction poverty alleviation (ICPA) has gradually become one of the primary means for countries worldwide to eradicate poverty. However, existing research has mainly focused on the economic benefits of ICPA in poverty-stricken areas, often overlooking its impact on the environment. Therefore, how to promote the green development (GD) of both the economy and environment in poverty-stricken areas has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed urgently. On this basis, employing a difference-in-differences model and using data of 1049 Chinese counties from 2011 to 2019, this study aims to complement existing research by investigating the impact of ICPA on GD in poverty-stricken areas. The results indicate that ICPA significantly enhances the level of GD in poverty-stricken areas. Further analysis reveals that ICPA improves the GD of poverty-stricken areas by enhancing the level of agricultural modernisation and the development level of relevant industries, with the level of fixed asset investment playing a positive moderating role. Finally, the conclusions can provide valuable insights and references for the GD of poverty-stricken areas worldwide.