Digital Human Capital and Sustainable Industrial Upgrading: A Reversal of the Optimistic Consensus in Chinese Provinces

Dataset Description This repository contains the datasets and Stata code needed to replicate the empirical results from the paper "Digital Human Capital and Sustainable Industrial Upgrading: A Reversal of the Optimistic Consensus in Chinese Provinces" (Yuan & Zhang, 2026). Variables The dataset includes the following key variables: IU: Industrial upgrading index (industrial‑structure hierarchy coefficient: primary + 2×secondary + 3×tertiary value‑added shares) DHC: Digital human capital index (CRITIC‑weighted composite of ITSS_EMP, ICT_RD_FTE, STEM_PG, STEM_UG_lag1) DHCd: DHC density index (four indicators expressed relative to urban employment or population) DII: Digital infrastructure index (CRITIC‑weighted composite of internet access port density, fiber‑optic cable density, broadband penetration, mobile phone penetration) lnTrade: Log of total imports and exports Gini: Provincial income Gini coefficient lnPGDP: Log of GDP per capita lnRD: Log of intramural R&D expenditure Additional instrumental variables and interaction terms as detailed in the paper Data Sources All data are compiled from publicly available sources, including the China Statistical Yearbook, China High‑tech Industry Statistical Yearbook, China Science and Technology Statistical Yearbook, Ministry of Education statistics, and provincial statistical yearbooks (2009–2022). Software Requirements Stata/MP 17.0 or later. Usage Place all files in the same working directory. Run in Stata.DHC_replication_v7.28(final).do All outputs (tables and figures) will be automatically generated and saved.