Industrial robot application and green total factor productivity of enterprises: an automation-augmentation perspective

Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) is critical to the global green transformation and ESG strategy. In this study, we investigate the impact of industrial robot application on enterprises’ green total factor productivity based on the automation-augmentation perspective. The results of the study show that industrial robot application greatly promotes GTFP. Mechanism analysis shows that industrial robot application further enhances GTFP by increasing the degree of green transformation and asset specificity. Heterogeneity test shows that firms with green investors, higher level of regional intellectual property rights protection, and higher degree of regional openness to the outside world have a more significant role in promoting GTFP by industrial robot application. This study enriches the literature on technological progress on green performance growth and provides valuable insights for practical applications.