Industrial chain division and carbon emission intensity: The moderating effect of digitization

Industrial chain structure optimization and digital transformation are crucial factors for achieving carbon emission reduction goals. Based on China's non-competitive input-output tables, this paper constructed industrial chain panel data using the structural path analysis method. We explored the influence of industrial chain division (ICD) on CO2 emission intensity through panel fixed effects model, and examined the moderating effect of digitization. The research found that: (1) The ICD can significantly reduce CO2 emission intensity, the results are robust after some endogeneity tests. (2) The emission reduction effect brought by ICD will be more obvious in high-stage, high-energy consumption, and high-intelligence industrial chains. There is still room to improve the emission reduction brought by the division network effect. (3) Digitization plays a positive moderating role on this effect. Furthermore, digital manufacturing and digital services exhibit heterogeneity in various types of industrial chains. (4) The ICD can reduce carbon emission intensity through pathways such as intelligent transformation, technological innovation, and energy efficiency, and digitization has positively moderated these impact pathways. Based on research results, targeted policy suggestions are provided for optimizing industrial chain structure and promoting digital transformation.