Green development effect assessment and driving force analysis of the new infrastructure construction in China

Against the backdrop of countries around the world advancing digital infrastructure construction and sustainable development, using China as an example to study the green development effects of new infrastructure construction (NIC) can not only provide decision-making references for promoting China's high-quality development but also contribute significantly to achieving more inclusive and green sustainable development globally. This study comprehensively employs the entropy weight method, elasticity coefficients, and other approaches to assess the impact of NIC on green development in 281 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2019, and analyzes the regional differentiation characteristics and driving factors. The research results indicate that: (1) The green development effects of NIC in China, as well as its economic, social, and environmental effects, exhibit a "marginal diminishing effect." (2) The green development effects of NIC in China, along with its economic, social, and environmental effects, demonstrate a spatial pattern transitioning from unbalanced to balanced development. (3) There is a strong spatial dependence among the green development effects of NIC, as well as its economic, social, and environmental effects. (4) The level of regional economic development and the green development effects of NIC exhibit a U-shaped relationship. Additionally, the impacts of environmental regulations, openness to foreign trade, and urbanization levels on the green development effects of NIC exhibit regional heterogeneity. Therefore, it is essential to base strategies on the developmental stages of different regions, tailoring approaches to local conditions to reverse the current situation of "marginal diminishing effects" in the green development effects of NIC.