Abstract Based on the micro-level enterprise data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2023, this paper employs a double machine learning model to identify the impact effect and transmission mechanism of smart city construction on the ESG performance of enterprises. The results show that the pilot policies for smart cities have a significant promoting effect on the ESG performance of enterprises, and this conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests. The pilot policies for smart cities enhance the ESG performance of enterprises through three channels: reducing information asymmetry for enterprises, boosting green technological innovation of enterprises and alleviating the financing constraints of enterprises. Under the background of the pilot policies for smart cities, the ESG performance of non-state-owned enterprises, non-heavy-polluting enterprises and enterprises in resource-based cities has improved more significantly. The findings provide theoretical insights into the intrinsic connection between smart city strategies and corporate sustainable development, offering guidance for enterprises to achieve high-quality development through the construction of smart cities.
WU Ting,ZHOU Yunbo. Smart City Construction and Enterprise ESG Performance: Empirical Evaluation Based on Double Machine Learning. Economic Survey, 2026, 43(2): 0117.
2026, Vol. 43 
