Wenkai Sun;Siyuan Tang;

• 1:School of Economics
• 2: Renmin University of China

Abstract：

This paper investigates the impact of network infrastructure on digital entrepreneurship using panel data from 295 Chinese cities(2005—2020) and a multi-period difference-in-differences design, exploiting the rollout of the “Broadband China” strategy as a quasi-natural experiment. The policy increased the share of digital enterprises by 2.97 percentage points on average, indicating that better infrastructure fosters regional digital entrepreneurship. The effect is stronger for small and micro firms, and network improvements encouraged new entries even in markets dominated by large incumbents. Heterogeneity analysis shows greater effects in cities with more university students and in industries with higher digital intensity. Mechanism tests suggest that network infrastructure promotes digital entrepreneurship by enhancing coverage quality, enlarging digital markets, and lowering transaction costs.

Key Words：

Abstract:

Keywords:

Foundation:

Authors: Wenkai Sun;Siyuan Tang;

References：

• 白俊红，张艺璇，卞元超.2022.创新驱动政策是否提升城市创业活跃度——来自国家创新型城市试点政策的经验证据[J].中国工业经济，(6):61-78.Bai J H,Zhang Y X,Bian Y C.2022.Does innovation-driven policy increase entrepreneurial activity in cities—Evidence from the national innovative city pilot policy[J].China Industrial Economics,(6):61-78.(in Chinese) 池毛毛，叶丁菱，王俊晶，等.2020.我国中小制造企业如何提升新产品开发绩效——基于数字化赋能的视角[J].南开管理评论，23(3):63-75.Chi M M,Ye D L,Wang J J,et al.2020.How can Chinese small-and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises improve the new product development(NPD) performance?From the perspective of digital empowerment[J].Nankai Business Review,23(3):63-75.(in Chinese) 狄嘉，孙朋飞，苑春荟，等.2025.数字经济发展驱动创业活跃度——基于国家大数据综合试验区的准自然实验[J].数量经济技术经济研究，42(1):157-177.Di J,Sun P F,Yuan C H,et al.2025.How does the development of the digital economy drive entrepreneurship[J].Journal of Quantitative & Technological Economics,42(1):157-177.(in Chinese) 杜丹清.2017.互联网助推消费升级的动力机制研究[J].经济学家，(3):48-54.Du D Q.2017.A research on the dynamic mechanism of internet boosts consumption upgrade[J].Economist,(3):48-54.(in Chinese) 韩国高，刘田广，庞明川.2024.绿色信贷政策与中国企业出口产品绿色重构[J].数量经济技术经济研究，41(4):89-110.Han G G,Liu T G,Pang M C.2024.Green credit policy and green reconfiguration of export products of chinese enterprises[J].Journal of Quantitative & Technological Economics,41(4):89-110.(in Chinese) 江艇.2022.因果推断经验研究中的中介效应与调节效应[J].中国工业经济，(5):100-120.Jiang T.2022.Mediating effects and moderating effects in causal inference[J].China Industrial Economics,(5):100-120.(in Chinese) 李广众，贾凡胜.2020.财政层级改革与税收征管激励重构——以财政“省直管县”改革为自然实验的研究[J].管理世界，36(8):32-50.Li G Z,Jia F S.2020.Reform of fiscal hierarchy and reconstruction of tax enforcement incentive:Evidence from the “Province-Managing-County” fiscal reform in China[J].Management World,36(8):32-50.(in Chinese) 莫怡青，李力行.2022.零工经济对创业的影响——以外卖平台的兴起为例[J].管理世界，38(2):31-45.Mo Y Q,Li L X.2022.Gig economy and entrepreneurship:Evidence from the entry of food delivery platforms[J].Management World,38(2):31-45.(in Chinese) 邱煜，潘攀.2023.企业数字化转型与大客户依赖治理[J].财贸经济，44(10):90-108.Qiu Y,Pan P.2023.Digital transformation and reducing the dependence on key customers[J].Finance & Trade Economics,44(10):90-108.(in Chinese) 申志轩，祝树金，文茜，等.2024.政府数字采购与企业数字化转型[J].数量经济技术经济研究，41(5):71-91.Shen Z X,Zhu S J,Wen Q,et al.2024.Government digital procurement and enterprise digital transformation[J].The Journal of Quantitative & Technical Economics,41(5):71-91.(in Chinese) 孙文凯，王乙杰.2016.父母外出务工对留守儿童健康的影响——基于微观面板数据的再考察[J].经济学(季刊),15(3):963-988.Sun W K,Wang Y J.2016.The effect of parental migration on left-behind children's health in China[J].China Economic Quarterly,15(3):963-988.(in Chinese) 谭海波，范梓腾，杜运周.2019.技术管理能力、注意力分配与地方政府网站建设——一项基于TOE框架的组态分析[J].管理世界，35(9):81-94.Tan H B,Fan Z T,Du Y Z.2019.Technological management capability,attention allocation,and local government website development:A configurational analysis based on the TOE framework[J].Management World,35(9):81-94.(in Chinese) 谢绚丽，沈艳，张皓星，等.2018.数字金融能促进创业吗?——来自中国的证据[J].经济学(季刊),17(4):1557-1580.Xie X L,Shen Y,Zhang H X,et al.2018.Can digital finance promote entrepreneurship?—Evidence from China[J].China Economic Quarterly,17(4):1557-1580.(in Chinese) 许恒，张一林，曹雨佳.2020.数字经济、技术溢出与动态竞合政策[J].管理世界，36(11):63-84.Xu H,Zhang L Y,Cao Y J.2020.Digital economy,technology spillover and dynamic coopetition policy[J].Management World,36(11):63-84.(in Chinese) 许文立，孙磊.2023.市场激励型环境规制与能源消费结构转型——来自中国碳排放权交易试点的经验证据[J].数量经济技术经济研究，40(7):133-155.Xu W L,Sun L.2023.Market-incentive environmental regulation and energy consumption structure transformation[J].Journal of Quantitative & Technological Economics,40(7):133-155.(in Chinese) 杨其静，唐跃桓，李秋芸.2022.互联网赋能小微企业：绩效与机制——来自中国小微企业调查(CMES)的证据[J].经济学(季刊),22(5):1783-1804.Yang Q J,Tang Y H,Li Q Y.2022.Internet empower small and micro enterprises:Performance and mechanism[J].China Economic Quarterly,22(5):1783-1804.(in Chinese) 易先忠，潘锐.2023.产业数字化对本土需求引致创新的强化效应——科技强国建设的优势途径[J].财贸经济，(11):137-153.Pan X Y,Pan R.2023.The reinforcing effect of industrial digitalization on demand-induced innovation:The advantageous channel of building China into a global leader in S&T[J].Finance & Trade Economics,(11):137-153.(in Chinese) 张昕蔚.2019.数字经济条件下的创新模式演化研究[J].经济学家，(7):32-39.Zhang X W.2019.Research on evolution of innovation model under the condition of digital economy[J].Economist,(7):32-39.(in Chinese) Anderson C.2006.The long tail:Why the future of business is selling less of more[M].New York:Hyperion. Callaway B,Sant Anna P H C.2021.Difference-in-differences with multiple time periods[J].Journal of Econometrics,225(2):200-230. Cui C,Li L S.2023.Trade policy uncertainty and new firm entry:Evidence from China[J].Journal of Development Economics,163:103093. Goldfarb A,Tucker C.2019.Digital economics[J].Journal of Economic Literature,57(1):3-43. Nagaraj A.2022.The private impact of public data:Landsat satellite maps increased gold discoveries and encouraged entry[J].Management Science,68(1):564-582. La Ferrara E,Chong A,Duryea S.2012.Soap operas and fertility:Evidence from Brazil[J].American Economic Journal:Applied Economics,4(4):1-31. Li P,Lu Y,Wang J.2016.Does flattening government improve economic performance?Evidence from China[J].Journal of Development Economics,123:18-37. Rambachan A,Roth J.2023.A more credible approach to parallel trends[J].Review of Economic Studies,90(5):2555-2591. Roth J,Sant Anna P H,Bilinski A,et al.2023.What's trending in difference-in-differences?A synthesis of the recent econometrics literature[J].Journal of Econometrics,235(2):2218-2244. Tambe P,Hitt L M,Brynjolfsson E.2012.The extroverted firm:how external information practices affect innovation and productivity[J].Management Science,58(5):843-859. Van Reenen J,Bloom N,Draca M,et al.2010.The economic impact of ICT[R].Research report,SMART 2007/0020.
• (1)若以城市群为单位被批准,则认为构成城市群的各城市同时接受了处理。由于重庆市下辖的区在不同年份接受了处理,而被解释变量为城市级,故剔除重庆市的样本。 (2)政策实施后2年、3年处理效应同样通过平行趋势的敏感性检验。 (3)第(2)列被解释变量为数字企业注册数量与人口之比,为了避免产生共线性问题,不再控制人口对数,其他控制变量的选择与基准回归一致。 (4)此处的长期特指三年后,短期特指一年。 (5)值得注意的是,税调数据覆盖年份为2007年到2016年,期间仅第一批和第二批“宽带中国”示范城市实施。但前文分析表明,“宽带中国”示范城市的政策效应主要是第一批示范城市建设带来的,因此样本受限对本文异质性分析和机制分析的影响不大。