Digital Alienation: How Data Elements Exacerbate the Green Innovation Bubble—Based on the Dual Mechanisms of Information Manipulation and Technological Lock-in

Yiqing Yue

doi:10.54254/2754-1169/2025.LD25044

Advances in Economics, Management and Political SciencesOpen access

Digital Alienation: How Data Elements Exacerbate the Green Innovation Bubble—Based on the Dual Mechanisms of Information Manipulation and Technological Lock-in

Research Article

Open Access

Digital Alienation: How Data Elements Exacerbate the Green Innovation Bubble—Based on the Dual Mechanisms of Information Manipulation and Technological Lock-in

Yiqing Yue ^1*

¹ China Foreign Affairs University

^*Corresponding author: elaineyuewin@163.com

Published on 11 July 2025

AEMPS Vol.201

ISSN (Print): 2754-1177

ISSN (Online): 2754-1169

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-259-1

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-260-7

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Abstract

This study explores the paradox where elevated data element utilization level intensifies green innovation bubbles (GIB) in Chinese A-share listed firms from 2012 to 2023. Employing time-fixed effect regression on 36,229 firm-year panel observations, this paper finds a significant positive association between data element utilization level (DEUL) and GIB (β=0.161, p<0.01), indicating that data-driven strategies may unexpectedly widen innovation quantity-quality gaps. Moreover, mechanism analysis reveals DEUL worsens GIB through dual pathways: (1) worsening information asymmetry via selective environmental disclosure (EID coefficient: -0.382, p<0.01), and (2) reinforcing technological path dependence (IID coefficient: 0.090, p<0.05). Notably, superstar inventors positively moderate this effect (β=0.162, p<0.05), speeding up bubble formation on grounds of overreliance on models. These findings challenge "data-driven efficiency," demonstrating that digital tools may cause strategic rigidity and resource misallocation. In terms of this issue, three solutions are proposed: policy-driven algorithm transparency as well as diversified R&D investment, corporate long-term evaluation reforms, and financial bubble-warning systems.

Keywords:

Data element utilization, green innovation bubble, Information asymmetry, Technological path dependence, Digital alienation

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References

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References

[3]. DENG K. Can QFII inhibit corporate green innovation "bubbles"? [J]. Cooperation Economy and Science, 2024, (21): 124-125. doi: 10.13665/j.cnki.hzjjykj.2024.21.067.

[5]. LI Q, CHEN L. Impact of ESG rating uncertainty on corporate green innovation [J]. Chinese Journal of Management, 2024, 21(12): 1820-1829.

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Cite this article

Yue,Y. (2025). Digital Alienation: How Data Elements Exacerbate the Green Innovation Bubble—Based on the Dual Mechanisms of Information Manipulation and Technological Lock-in. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,201,64-73.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Digital Transformation in Global Human Resource Management

ISBN: 978-1-80590-259-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-260-7(Online)

Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, An Nguyen

Conference website: https://www.icemgd.org/committee.html

Conference date: 26 September 2025

Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences

Volume number: Vol.201

ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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