[Impact and Mechanism of Digital Technology Transfer on Environmental Quality]

Digital technology transfer has emerged as a key channel for rapidly improving the overall level of digital technology and subsequently promoting environmental improvement， particularly against the backdrop of a pronounced "digital technology gap." However， the specific impact of digital technology transfer on environmental quality in recipient regions and the underlying mechanisms remain a "black box" yet to be fully explored. Using panel data from 284 Chinese cities spanning 2011 to 2021， this study constructs an econometric model to empirically examine the effects of digital technology transfer on the environmental quality of recipient regions. The results show that： ① Digital technology transfer significantly contributed to the improvement of environmental quality in recipient regions. This conclusion remained robust after a series of sensitivity analyses and endogeneity treatments. ② Digital technology transfer had a markedly positive effect on environmental quality in eastern regions and areas with a high level of digital economic development. In contrast， in central and western regions or areas where the digital economy is relatively underdeveloped， limited technological absorptive capacity and weaker infrastructure may lead to short-term environmental pressures as a result of digital technology transfer. ③ Digital technology transfer could indirectly improve environmental quality through four main pathways： promoting green technological innovation， upgrading industrial structures， optimizing energy consumption structures， and enhancing resource allocation efficiency. ④ The impact of digital technology transfer on environmental quality exhibited significant nonlinear characteristics. As environmental quality improved， the marginal benefits from digital technology transfer gradually increased， indicating an amplifying trend whereby "the strong get stronger."