Effect of Internet Construction on Urban Green Development: Evidence From the Pilot Policy of “Broadband China”

ABSTRACT Could building the Internet improve the green growth of production in cities and thereby realize economic progress of high quality? Utilizing a quasi‐natural experiment from the implementation of “Broadband China,” the study explores the role of Internet construction in propelling the green production of urban regions in China. Its consequences illuminate that Internet construction could significantly elevate the green transformation of urban development. Furthermore, this advancement is facilitated via mechanisms of green technological innovation, optimized industrial structure, as well as economic agglomeration contributed by the well‐established Internet construction in cities. Notably, the study discerns variations in the Internet's influence on the green advancement level within urban areas based on the geographic location, resource endowment, market construction, and the degree of government intervention in each city. This research offers valuable insights into the mechanisms by which the construction and promotion of the Internet affect the urban green economy.