Abstract:  Based on the background of smart city construction, this paper explores ways to improve the inward FDI performance index from the perspective of intelligence using the panel data of cities in China from 2005 to 2019. The results show that smart city construction can effectively promote the inward FDI performance index of cities in China. The function mechanism tests show that smart city pilot policies mainly promote the improvement of the inward FDI performance index by improving urban innovation capabilities, pushing on the process of city information construction and urban digital transformation. Furthermore, the promotion effect of smart city pilot policies on the inward FDI performance index shows significant heterogeneity. Specifically, in cities with well-developed digital infrastructures, faster development, and high levels of openness, the construction of smart cities has a more pronounced promoting effect on the inward FDI performance index.

Key words:

smart city, inward FDI performance index, innovation capacity, city informatization, digital transformation