The Micro-Generation Logic of New Quality Productive Forces from the Perspective of Technology-Industry-Institution Synergy: A Case Study of Youth Digital Consumption in Chongqing

Abstract

The emergence of new quality productive forces represents a paradigm shift in contemporary economic and sociological development, characterized by high technological integration, industrial innovation, and institutional adaptation. While macroeconomic perspectives dominate current discourse, the micro-generation logic—how everyday actions and structural synergies at the individual level precipitate massive productive transformations—remains underexplored. This comprehensive paper investigates the micro-generation logic of new quality productive forces through the lens of Technology-Industry-Institution synergy, focusing on the dynamic and rapidly evolving digital consumption behaviors of youth in Chongqing, China. By employing a mixed-methods research design encompassing extensive quantitative surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews, this study delineates how technological affordances, industrial platform architectures, and institutional regulatory frameworks interact to shape youth consumption patterns. The findings reveal that digital consumption in Chongqing is not merely an endpoint of economic activity but a generative site for new productive forces. Technological algorithms construct personalized consumption realities, industrial actors rapidly commercialize localized cultural identities, and institutional mechanisms provide the necessary boundaries and incentives for sustainable digital engagement. Ultimately, this research provides a nuanced theoretical framework that bridges macro-structural synergy with micro-sociological behaviors, offering profound implications for understanding the future trajectory of digital economies and formulating targeted policies to harness the generative potential of youth demographics.