The Impact of E-Commerce on Urban Green Innovation Development

Abstract

Green innovation development is essential to achieve “carbon neutrality and carbon peaking” and drive sustainable urban growth, which greatly influences the global green economy. This paper probes into the influence of e-commerce on urban green innovation and its mechanism using a multi-period double difference model. The authors examine the heterogeneous impact of e-commerce on urban green innovation under various urban characteristics. The study reveals that e-commerce development enhances urban entrepreneurial vitality, promotes investment agglomeration, and fosters favorable social conditions and sufficient financial guarantees for green innovation development. E-commerce development's promotion effect shows a “U-shaped” trend as the extent of urban green innovation increases. Additionally, the impact of e-commerce development on urban green innovation is highly dependent on its resource endowments. Therefore, we should focus on the empowering effect of e-commerce development on green innovation to provide new growth opportunities for the green economy.