In recent years, with its powerful enabling effect, data factor has become a crucial engine for generating and fostering new quality productive forces. Based on constructing a theoretical framework for how data factor empowers new quality productive forces, this paper utilizes provincial panel data of China from 2011 to 2023, and employs bidirectional fixed-effects and mediating-effect panel models to empirically examine the impact mechanism of data factor on new quality productive forces. The results indicate that data factor significantly and robustly promotes new quality productive forces. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the driving effect of data factor exhibits notable spatial gradient differences and is more pronounced in regions with a relatively strong foundation in data factor or new quality productive forces, reflecting a self-reinforcing characteristic of “the strong getting stronger”. Mechanism tests demonstrate that data factor can indirectly empower the development of new quality productive forces through two pathways: promoting industry-university-research collaboration and optimizing industrial structure. This study contributes to deepening the understanding of the internal logic of how data factor empowers new quality productive forces, and provides references for relevant policy formulation to better unleash the value of data factor and systematically enhance the development of new quality productive forces.
References
[1]
Czarnitzki, D., Fernández, G. P., & Rammer, C. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and Firm-Level Productivity. JournalofEconomicBehavior&Organization,211, 188-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.05.008
[2]
Du, X., & Jiang, K. (2022). Promoting Enterprise Productivity: The Role of Digital Transformation. BorsaIstanbulReview,22, 1165-1181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2022.08.005
[3]
Feng, Y., & Lin, H. (2024). Empowering New Quality Productive Forces with the Data Factor: Theoretical Logic and Practical Pathways. Economist, 5, 15-24.
[4]
Gan, C., Zheng, R., Yu, D. (2011). The Impact of China’s Industrial Structure Changes on Economic Growth and Fluctuations. Economic Research Journal, 5, 4-16+31.
[5]
Guo, K., Wang, Y., Hang, J. (2024). Scale Effects of the Data Factor, Industrial Structure Transformation, and Productivity Enhancement. China Industrial Economics, 8, 5-23.
[6]
He, Q., & Yan, Y. (2025). Data Factor Empowers Economic Resilience: Evidence from China. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 15, 1791-1811. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2025.1512092
[7]
Jiang, H., & Liu, G. (2025). Model Construction and Realization Mechanism of Empowering New Quality Productive Forces with the Data Factor. Library Tribune, 10, 21-29.
[8]
Jiang, T. (2022). Mediating and Moderating Effects in Empirical Causal Inference Research. China Industrial Economics, 5, 100-120.
[9]
Jiang, Y. (2025). The Inheritance and Development of Marxist Productivity Theory by the Theory of New Quality Productive Forces. Economic Perspectives, 5, 5-18.
[10]
Liu, W. (2024). Scientifically Understanding and Practically Developing New Quality Productive Forces. Economic Research Journal, 3, 4-11.
[11]
Lu, Y., & Wang, Y. (2024). Marketization of the Data Factor and the Development of New Quality Productive Forces: Causal Inference Based on Double Machine Learning. Urban Problems, 7, 80-90.
[12]
Luo, M., Zhou, H., & Mao, D. (2025). Marketization of Data Elements and New-Quality Productivity: A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on Data Trading Platforms. AppliedEconomics,8, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2025.2541938
[13]
Ren, Y., Wu, Y., & Wu, Z. (2024). Financial Agglomeration, Industry-University-Research Collaboration, and New Quality Productive Forces. Theory and Practice of Finance and Economics, 3, 27-34.
[14]
Wang, J., & Wang, R. (2024). New Quality Productive Forces: Index Construction and Spatio-Temporal Evolution. Journal of Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, 1, 31-47.
[15]
Wang, K., Liu, Y., & Wang, S. (2024). The Data Factor and Green Innovation: From the Perspective of New Quality Productive Forces. Research on Financial and Economic Issues, 9, 18-33.
[16]
Wang, Y. (2024). Empowering Industrial Structure Transformation and Upgrading with the Development of the Data Factor: Theoretical Mechanism and Empirical Test. Business Research, 4, 13-22.
[17]
Wu, J., & Du, W. (2024). Integration of Digital and Real Economies, Resource Allocation Efficiency, and the Development of New Quality Productive Forces. Statistics and Decision, 24, 5-10.
[18]
Xia, J., Li, L., & Liu, Y. (2023). How the Digital Economy Breaks Down Inter-Provincial Trade Barriers: China’s Experience in Building a Unified National Market. Economic Review, 2, 43-53.
[19]
Xu, J., Li, Z., & Han, X. (2025). Accelerating the Development of New Quality Productive Forces: Promotion Strategies and Policy Recommendations. Reform, 1, 40-52.
[20]
Xu, X., Li, S., & Li, T. (2024). Empowering the Formation of New Quality Productive Forces with the Data Factor: Logic, Mechanism, and Pathways. Comparative Economic and Social Systems, 6, 41-50.
[21]
Xue, Y. (2025). Research on the Data Elements Enabling New Quality Productivity Mechanisms, Challenges, and Pathways. SHSWebofConferences,218, Article 04011. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202521804011
[22]
Yao, L., Zhang, P., & Petrović, V. (2025). How does Data Factor Marketization Empower Enterprises’ New Quality Productivity? The Moderating Role of Export Technology Sophistication. Novi Ekonomist,1, 14-27.
[23]
Zhang, B., & Li, L. (2024). “Data Factor×” Driving New Quality Productive Forces: Intrinsic Logic and Realization Pathways. Contemporary Economic Management, 8, 1-10.
[24]
Zhang, S., & Zhu, Y. (2024). Population Aging, Digital Transformation, and the Development of New Quality Productive Forces. Journal of Beijing Technology and Business University (Social Sciences Edition), 3, 28-39.
[25]
Zhang, Z., Li, J., & Halik, T. (2024). Measurement and Spatio-Temporal Evolution of China’s New Quality Productive Forces Development Level. Statistics and Decision, 9, 18-23.
[26]
Zhao, T., Zhang, Z., & Liang, S. (2020). Digital Economy, Entrepreneurial Activity, and High-Quality Development: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Cities. Management World, 10, 65-76.
[27]
Zhong, Y., Lai, H., Zhang, L., Guo, L., & Lai, X. (2025). Does Public Data Openness Accelerate New Quality Productive Forces? Evidence from China. EconomicAnalysisandPolicy,85, 1409-1427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2025.01.025
[28]
Zhou, W., & Xu, L. (2023). On New Quality Productive Forces: Connotations, Characteristics, and Key Focal Points. Reform, 10, 1-13.
[29]
Zhu, B., & Zeng, L. (2024). The Impact and Mechanism of Digital Finance Development on Regional New Quality Productive Forces. Finance and Economics, 8, 16-31.
