The Digital Economy and New Quality Productive Forces: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/j0f7q390Keywords:
Digital Economy, New Quality Productive Forces, Measurement, Transmission MechanismsAbstract
Whether the digital economy can foster the development of new quality productive forces depends not only on investment in digital technologies and infrastructure, but also on whether data and technology can be combined with conventional factors of production to create effective productive capacity. This article reviews the conceptual foundations and measurement approaches of the digital economy and new quality productive forces. It then synthesizes the literature on the overall effects of the digital economy, differences across levels of analysis, nonlinearities, and spatial spillovers, before examining the principal transmission mechanisms. The literature generally supports a positive relationship. The digital economy and new quality productive forces share close links in their technological foundations and factor composition. The central mechanism is the use of data to translate scientific and technological advances into productive capacity, supported by the recombination of production factors and the upgrading of industrial structure. The pace of this conversion, however, depends heavily on regional human-capital endowments and the ability to absorb frontier technologies. Digital infrastructure and an enabling legal and institutional environment are equally important. Future research should sharpen the conceptual boundaries of both constructs, improve the consistency and accuracy of measurement, examine linked mechanisms and cross-level transmission, and give greater attention to possible adverse effects. The use of multidimensional micro-level data would also strengthen causal identification.
Downloads
References
[1] Hong, Y. (2024). New quality productive forces and their cultivation and development. Economic Perspectives, (1), 3–11.
[2] Zhu, H., & Chen, L. (2024). The theoretical logic and pathway choices of the digital economy empowering new quality productive forces. Xinjiang Social Sciences, (4), 27–37, 172–173.
[3] Wang, Y., Ke, Q., & Guo, Y. (2024). The theoretical logic of the digital economy driving the emergence of new quality productive forces. Journal of Shaanxi Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 53(3), 26–38. https:// doi.org/10.15983/j.cnki.sxss.2024.0503.
[4] Lang, Y., Fan, B., & Huang, S. (2024). Pathways and policy effects of the digital economy on new quality productive forces: An industrial ecosystem perspective. Social Scientist, (4), 107–116.
[5] Zhang, A., & Sun, J. (2024). Digital economy development and the formation logic of new quality productive forces. Academic Research, (5), 87–95.
[6] Jiao, Y., & Qi, M. (2024). The digital economy empowers the development of new quality productive forces. Review of Economy and Management, 40(3), 17–30.
[7] Yao, S., & Wang, J. (2024). The theoretical logic and implementation pathways through which the digital economy promotes new quality productive forces. Journal of Yantai University (Philosophy and Social Science Edition), 37(2), 1–12.
[8] Feng, J., Yuan, Y., & Sun, Z. (2025). How do digital economy policies empower corporate new quality productive forces? Research on Economics and Management, 46(10), 129–144.
[9] Xiong, L., Huang, L., & Yang, L. (2025). The impact of national green data centers on corporate new quality productive forces: A perspective of technological potential transmission. Collected Essays on Finance and Economics, 1–15.
[10] Hong, Y., & Wang, K. (2024). Industrial and supply chain resilience and security from the perspective of new quality productive forces. Economic Research Journal, 59(6), 4–14.
[11] Luo, S., & Xiao, Y. (2024). Agglomeration of core digital-economy industries and the development of new quality productive forces: Theoretical mechanisms and empirical evidence. Xinjiang Social Sciences, (2), 29–40, 148.
[12] Wang, L. (2024). The digital economy, new quality productive forces, and the construction of a modernized industrial system with Chinese characteristics. Science & Technology Progress and Policy, 41(18), 55–65.
[13] Yu, D. (2024). Computing power: A new quality productive force in the digital-economy era. Finance and Trade Research, 35(7), 1–16.
[14] Ma, R. (2024). The impact of new digital infrastructure on high-quality economic development from the perspective of new quality productive forces. Journal of Northwest University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 54(3), 48–61.
[15] Zhang, S., & Wen, J. (2024). The digital economy empowers new quality productive forces: An analytical framework. Contemporary Economic Management, 46(7), 1–9.
[16] Xu, A., & Chen, J. (2024). Enhancing new quality productive forces: Synergy between the digital economy and technological innovation. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, 46(12), 1–15.
[17] Zhang, Y., & Sun, Y. (2025). Paths through which digital-economy factors drive regional new quality productive forces: A comparison of the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Resources Science, 47(9), 1839–1853.
[18] Bai, Y., & Zhao, H. (2025). Digital economy policy and new quality productive forces: A quasi-natural experiment based on National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zones. Science of Science and Management of S&T, 1–25.
[19] Yang, P., & Wang, J. (2025). Spatiotemporal evolution and differentiation mechanisms of the coupling coordination between the digital economy and new quality productive forces. Journal of Northwest A&F University (Social Science Edition), 1–14.
[20] Ren, H., Yu, Y., & Ye, M. (2025). Spatial spillover effects of the digital economy on new quality productive forces: Evidence from National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zones. Lanzhou Academic Journal, 1–21.
[21] Li, J., & Liao, X. (2025). Data factors empowering the development of new quality productive forces: Internal logic, practical challenges, and implementation pathways. Theoretical Exploration, 1–9.
[22] Zhang, Z. (2024). New quality productive forces empowering digital rural development: Transformation logic and implementation pathways. Academic Exchange, (1), 93–107.
[23] Wen, J., Yan, Z., & Cheng, Y. (2020). Innovation-driven effects of the digital economy: Evidence from provincial panel data. Reform of Economic System, (3), 31–38.
[24] Du, C., Shu, S., & Li, Z. (2023). Mechanisms and implementation pathways through which new quality productive forces promote high-quality economic development. Economic Review Journal, (12), 20–28.
[25] Chao, X., & Wang, Q. (2024). The logic and pathways of new quality productive forces driving high-quality development. Journal of Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, 37(1), 12–20.
[26] Li, Z., & Wang, J. (2021). Digital economy development, allocation of data factors, and manufacturing productivity enhancement. Economist, (10), 41–50.
[27] Jiang, S., & Sun, Y. (2020). Empirical research on the effect of the digital economy on the real economy. Science Research Management, 41(5), 32–39.
[28] Chen, X., & Yang, X. (2021). The impact of digital economy development on industrial structure upgrading: A study based on grey relational entropy and dissipative structure theory. Reform, (3), 26–39.
[29] Li, Z., Che, S., & Wang, J. (2021). Digital economy development and industrial structure transformation and upgrading: A heterogeneity test based on 275 Chinese cities. Journal of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, 36(5), 27–40.
[30] Liu, Y., & Chen, X. (2021). The impact of China's digital economy development on industrial structure upgrading. Research on Economics and Management, 42(8), 15–29.
[31] Ren, B., & Wang, Z. (2023). The logic and pathways through which digital new quality productive forces promote high-quality economic development. Journal of Xiangtan University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 47(6), 23–30.
[32] Shen, K., & Jin, T. (2024). Accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces through the development of future industries. Jiangsu Social Sciences, (6), 57–66, 242.
[33] Guo, H., & Hou, X. (2024). The theoretical logic and path choices for building a modern industrial system through new quality productive forces. Journal of Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, 37(1), 21–30.
[34] Jiang, Z., & Jin, Z. (2024). Education empowering new quality productive forces: Theoretical logic and practical pathways. Chongqing Higher Education Research, 12(1), 108–117.
[35] Li, Y. (2023). The logic and pathways for building industry-education integration communities from the perspective of new quality productive forces. Nanjing Journal of Social Sciences, (12), 122–129.
[36] Qi, Y., Liu, C., & Ding, S. (2020). Digital economy development, employment structure optimization, and employment quality improvement. Economic Perspectives, (11), 17–35.
[37] Mi, J., Li, D., & Dong, C. (2024). Computing-power-driven new quality productive forces: Essential characteristics, underlying logic, and modernization of national governance. Journal of Public Management, 21(2), 1–14, 170.
[38] Shi, J., & Xu, L. (2024). The major strategic significance and implementation pathways of accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces. Research on Financial and Economic Issues, (1), 3–12.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Academic Journal of Management and Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
