Industrial intelligence and industrial structure change: Effect and mechanism

Based on the provincial panel data from 2010 to 2019, taking industrial robots as proxy variables, this paper analyzes the impact of industrial intelligence on industrial structure change through constructing the indicators of optimization, rationalization and synergy of industrial structure and agriculture upgrading, industry upgrading, and service upgrading. Results show that the industrial intelligence has significant effect on the quantity and quality of industrial structure upgrading and the industrial elements synergy, but has no positive effect on the rationalization of industrial structure. Within the industry, it has significantly promoted the upgrading of the automobile industry and the traditional manufacturing industry. It has significantly promoted the transformation of producer services and consumer services, but has no significant impact on the upgrading of agriculture. Further mechanism tests confirm that productivity improvement, capital deepening, labor structure upgrading, industrial spillover and demand traction play mediating roles. Based on the research, policy suggestions are put forward to promote industrial transformation and upgrading.