Digital transformation and total factor productivity in manufacturing firms: Evidence of corporate public responsibilities in China

IF 10.1 1区社会学 Q1 SOCIAL ISSUES

Technology in Society Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102874

Xiangan Ding , Andrea Appolloni , Mohsin Shahzad , Yue Liu , Shaojie Han

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Abstract

Fulfilling corporate public responsibilities to employees is crucial for sustainable social development. The impact of digital transformation on total factor productivity (TFP) about these responsibilities remains unclear. Taking Chinese manufacturing companies as the research sample, empirical analyses including fixed effect model, propensity score matching, and staggered Differences-in-Differences methods have demonstrated that digital strategy can boost manufacturing companies' TFP. Further, stepwise regression analysis of the mechanisms revealed that while the transformation primarily boosts productivity directly, it also indirectly boosts TFP by reinforcing employee and public responsibilities. These findings suggest that maintaining responsibilities to employees and the public during digital transformation can enhance corporate productivity. This study sheds light on how digital technology drives corporate social responsibility for sustainable social development.

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来源期刊

Technology in Society Multiple-

CiteScore

17.90

自引率

14.10%

发文量

316

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Technology in Society is a global journal dedicated to fostering discourse at the crossroads of technological change and the social, economic, business, and philosophical transformation of our world. The journal aims to provide scholarly contributions that empower decision-makers to thoughtfully and intentionally navigate the decisions shaping this dynamic landscape. A common thread across these fields is the role of technology in society, influencing economic, political, and cultural dynamics. Scholarly work in Technology in Society delves into the social forces shaping technological decisions and the societal choices regarding technology use. This encompasses scholarly and theoretical approaches (history and philosophy of science and technology, technology forecasting, economic growth, and policy, ethics), applied approaches (business innovation, technology management, legal and engineering), and developmental perspectives (technology transfer, technology assessment, and economic development). Detailed information about the journal's aims and scope on specific topics can be found in Technology in Society Briefings, accessible via our Special Issues and Article Collections.