High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation

The development of HSR (HSR) promotes the flow of economy and population, which can, to some extent, impact the innovation level of cities connected by it. This paper, based on city data from 276 prefecture-level cities and above from 2003 to 2016, employs the DID method and a mediation effect model...

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Main Authors: Guangzhao Sun, Biao Gao, Liguo Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-12-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241303255
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author Guangzhao Sun
Biao Gao
Liguo Zhang
author_facet Guangzhao Sun
Biao Gao
Liguo Zhang
author_sort Guangzhao Sun
collection DOAJ
description The development of HSR (HSR) promotes the flow of economy and population, which can, to some extent, impact the innovation level of cities connected by it. This paper, based on city data from 276 prefecture-level cities and above from 2003 to 2016, employs the DID method and a mediation effect model to empirically analyze the relationship between the opening of HSR, economic agglomeration, and the level of urban innovation. The study finds that the introduction of HSR not only elevates the innovation level of connected cities but also manifests a mediation effect of economic agglomeration. Further research reveals that this mediation effect varies regionally and by city hierarchy. Specifically, in eastern regions, the mediation effect of HSR promoting urban innovation through economic agglomeration is less pronounced than in western regions. For central cities, the mediation effect is represented through economic density, while for non-central cities, it manifests through economic density, population density, and industrial density. Robustness checks further validate these findings, reaffirming the conclusions of this paper. Thus, the study’s findings offer policy insights, suggesting that local governments can leverage the economic agglomeration advantages brought by HSR and adopt differentiated and rational policy measures to promote high-quality urban development.
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issn 2158-2440
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spelling doaj-art-0a2c033950c445e5adb01fc67d269ce42024-12-14T09:03:28ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402024-12-011410.1177/21582440241303255High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban InnovationGuangzhao Sun0Biao Gao1Liguo Zhang2 Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, China Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, China Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, ChinaThe development of HSR (HSR) promotes the flow of economy and population, which can, to some extent, impact the innovation level of cities connected by it. This paper, based on city data from 276 prefecture-level cities and above from 2003 to 2016, employs the DID method and a mediation effect model to empirically analyze the relationship between the opening of HSR, economic agglomeration, and the level of urban innovation. The study finds that the introduction of HSR not only elevates the innovation level of connected cities but also manifests a mediation effect of economic agglomeration. Further research reveals that this mediation effect varies regionally and by city hierarchy. Specifically, in eastern regions, the mediation effect of HSR promoting urban innovation through economic agglomeration is less pronounced than in western regions. For central cities, the mediation effect is represented through economic density, while for non-central cities, it manifests through economic density, population density, and industrial density. Robustness checks further validate these findings, reaffirming the conclusions of this paper. Thus, the study’s findings offer policy insights, suggesting that local governments can leverage the economic agglomeration advantages brought by HSR and adopt differentiated and rational policy measures to promote high-quality urban development.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241303255
spellingShingle Guangzhao Sun
Biao Gao
Liguo Zhang
High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
SAGE Open
title High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
title_full High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
title_fullStr High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
title_full_unstemmed High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
title_short High-Speed Rail Opening, Economic Agglomeration, and Urban Innovation
title_sort high speed rail opening economic agglomeration and urban innovation
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241303255
work_keys_str_mv AT guangzhaosun highspeedrailopeningeconomicagglomerationandurbaninnovation
AT biaogao highspeedrailopeningeconomicagglomerationandurbaninnovation
AT liguozhang highspeedrailopeningeconomicagglomerationandurbaninnovation