Work

The effect of digitalization on disaster response in local government: Quasi-experimental evidence from smart city infrastructure in China

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In the context of global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme natural disasters, enhancing local governments’ disaster response capacity has become a critical challenge worldwide. This study conducted a quasi-natural experiment to examine the effect of smart city (SC) infrastructure, as a key manifestation of local government digitalization, on disaster response times by leveraging China’s national SC pilot policy. Using panel data from 283 prefecture-level cities from 2010 to 2020, this study applied a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) approach to identify causal effects. The results show that the SC infrastructure shortens disaster response times by an average of 12.5%. Mechanism analyses reveal that this effect operates through the improved information transmission efficiency, optimized resource allocation, and enhanced interdepartmental collaboration. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the effect is stronger in sub-provincial cities and eastern regions. This study provided quasi-experimental evidence for the role of digital governance in emergency management and offered policy implications for scaling the SC initiatives in developing countries.

Source: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2026.106043

Authors: Nanhu Gao, Zhen Lin, Bin Yang

Institutions: Yibin University, Jinan University, Sun Yat-sen University

Language: English

Topic: Disaster Management and Resilience

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,200