People are the Foundation of a Country: The Impact of County’s STI Ability on People'sLivelihood

Abstract

Investigating whether Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) at the county level can enhance the quality of life merits in-depth study. Using the monitoring and evaluation results of counties' STI capabilities from 2018 to 2021, published by the General Office of the People's Government of Hebei Province, this paper examines the impact of counties' STI capabilities on the development of public infrastructure, income distribution, education, healthcare, and other aspects of livelihood. Our findings indicate that enhancing counties' STI capabilities can improve local public infrastructure, reduce the urban-rural income gap, and enhance healthcare conditions. However, the impact on regional education quality is relatively minor. Indicators such as innovation subjects, innovation conditions, and innovation management, which reflect the quality of counties' STI capabilities, have a significant positive impact on people's livelihoods. Conversely, indicators reflecting the quantity of STI capabilities, such as
innovation input and output, show no significant effect. Regional heterogeneity also plays a role, with more pronounced effects in counties  located near metropolises.