Search Results (199)

As an important industrial organizational form in the era of the digital economy, digital industry agglomeration exerts a profound impact on urban ecological resilience. Using panel data of 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2021, this study measures the level of digital industry agglomeration by means of the location entropy method, and constructs an urban ecological resilience evaluation system based on the “Pressure-State-Response (PSR)” model. It systematically examines the impact effects and action mechanisms of digital industry agglomeration on urban ecological resilience. The results show that: (1) The spatio-temporal evolution of the two presents a gradient pattern of “eastern leadership and central-western catch-up”, and their spatial correlation deepens over time, with the synergy maturity in the eastern region being significantly higher than that in the central and western regions. (2) Digital industry agglomeration significantly promotes the improvement in urban ecological resilience, and this conclusion remains valid after endogeneity treatment and robustness tests. (3) The promotional effect is more prominent in central cities, coastal cities, and key environmental protection cities, whose advantages stem from digital infrastructure and innovation endowments, industrial synergy and an open environment, and the adaptability of green technologies under strict environmental regulations, respectively. (4) Digital industry agglomeration empowers ecological resilience by driving green innovation and improving the efficiency of land resource allocation, while the construction of digital infrastructure plays a positive regulatory role. Full article

Promoting the synergistic development of green finance (GF) and green technology innovation (GTI) is crucial for achieving sustainable economic development. Based on the sample data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2023, this study first investigates the theoretical mechanism of interactive coupling and then employs methods including Dagum Gini coefficient, spatial kernel density estimation, spatial correlation analysis, and a GTWR model to explore the spatiotemporal pattern, evolution trend, and driving factors of the coupling coordination between GF and GTI. The findings are as follows: (1) The coupling coordination degree (CCD) is about to transition from the moderate imbalance stage to the near imbalance stage, presenting a distinct spatial pattern of “higher levels and faster development in the east, and lower levels and slower development in the west”. (2) The Gini coefficient of the CCD shows an upward trend, with the degree of imbalance increasing year by year; the main sources of the overall differences follow this order: intra-regional disparity (G_w) > inter-regional disparity (G_b) > transvariation density (G_t). (3) The CCD between GF and GTI exhibits a positive spatial correlation, and the agglomeration degree is constantly increasing; the High-High Cluster areas are mainly concentrated in northern China. (4) Economic development level, financial development level, population scale, and urbanization level drive the coupling coordination between GF and GTI. This study provides new theoretical and empirical evidence for the complex coupling relationship and driving factors of GF and GTI and offers a key scientific basis for the Chinese government to formulate differentiated regional policies, thereby promoting the effective implementation of the green and low-carbon development strategy. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid modernization and tightening agricultural resource constraints, coordinating urbanization and grain production is a key challenge for China. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2004 to 2023, this study applies the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and a panel vector autoregression model to examine the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics and interaction mechanisms among new-type urbanization (NTU), cultivated land use efficiency (CLUE), and food security (FS). The results show that these three systems have gradually evolved toward coordinated development, with major grain-producing regions consistently leading and entering a moderate coordination stage earlier than other regions. Spatially, CCD exhibits significant positive spatial autocorrelation, characterized by stable “High–High” agglomeration in Northeast China and “Low–Low” agglomeration in southern provinces. Dynamic analysis indicates that system fluctuations are mainly driven by internal inertia, while inter-system interactions are also significant; NTU promotes CLUE, and CLUE and FS exhibit bidirectional causality with complex feedback effects. This study argues for promoting urban–rural factor mobility, advancing green and technology-enabled land use, implementing region-specific development strategies, and establishing a “human–land–grain” early-warning mechanism to safeguard food security during urban expansion. Full article

In the context of open innovation, innovation cooperation has become an important path to strengthen the resilience of urban economics. This study aims to explore how different innovation cooperation patterns impact urban economic resilience by utilizing panel data from 280 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2020. The results show that intra-provincial buzz has a nonlinear relationship with economic resilience, while the inter-provincial pipeline consistently enhances that resilience. Furthermore, intra-provincial buzz primarily promotes economic resilience by improving the technology agglomeration level, while the inter-provincial pipeline achieves the same by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship vitality. Further analysis reveals heterogeneous effects across geographic locations, city sizes, and levels of industrial diversification. These findings highlight the complex impacts of two innovation cooperation patterns on urban economic resilience, underscoring the requirement for strategies tailored to specific situations depending on geographic and economic contexts. Full article

In the context of advancing sustainable urban development, the spatial organization of industries plays a critical role in shaping environmental quality, economic vitality, and public health. This study examines the health effects of furniture enterprises agglomeration in Chinese cities, using a unique dataset combining point-of-interest (POI) big data and micro-level survey responses from 13,217 individuals. The results show that a one-unit increase in furniture enterprises agglomeration intensity is associated with a 0.656-unit improvement in physical health and a 0.060-unit improvement in mental health. These benefits are driven by three synergistic mechanisms: environmental improvement, income growth, and enhanced public health services. However, the health gains are unevenly distributed, with greater benefits observed in less-developed cities and among vulnerable groups such as low-skilled and middle-aged workers. We further reveal divergent effects between specialized and diversified agglomeration patterns, moderated by environmental regulation. Our findings underscore the need for health-oriented industrial policies that align with sustainable urban planning, emphasizing spatial adaptation, targeted support for vulnerable populations, and innovative regulatory approaches to foster both industrial growth and resident well-being. Full article

Real estate inventory dynamics exhibit distinct temporal patterns and spatial heterogeneity, and precise identification of these trends serves as a prerequisite for effective policy formulation. Research on the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and influencing factors of real estate inventory holds significant academic and practical value. By employing ESDA, the Boston Matrix, and geographically weighted regression models to analyze 2017–2022 data from 287 Chinese cities, this study reveals a cyclical shift in China’s real estate inventory management—from “destocking” to “restocking”. The underlying drivers have transitioned from policy-led interventions to fundamentals-driven factors, including population dynamics, income levels, and market expectations. China’s real estate inventory and its changes exhibit significant spatiotemporal differentiation and spatial agglomeration patterns, demonstrating a spatial structure characterized by “multiple clustered highlands with peripheral lowlands” led by urban agglomerations. The influencing mechanism of China’s real estate inventory constitutes a complex system shaped by three key dimensions: macro-level drivers, regional differentiation, and structural contradictions. Policymakers should reorient destocking policies from “short-term stimulus” to “long-term coordination”, from “industrial policy” to “spatial policy”, and from addressing market “symptoms” to tackling “root causes”. This study argues that effective destocking policies constitute a systematic engineering challenge, demanding policymakers demonstrate profound analytical depth. They must move beyond simplistic sales metrics and perform multi-dimensional evaluations encompassing economic geography, demographic trends, fiscal systems, and land supply mechanisms. This paradigm shift from “symptom management” to “root cause resolution” and “systemic regulation” is essential for achieving sustainable real estate market development. Full article

As the spatial carrier of urban development, construction land is a fundamental element for achieving high-quality urban development (HQUD). This study examines the impact of construction land supply on HQUD across 285 Chinese cities. A HQUD evaluation model is created to assess each city’s development level. The GTWR model is then applied to explore the dynamic spatial effects of land supply on HQUD level. The results show the following: (1) The construction land supply exhibited a fluctuating trend accompanied by notable spatial disparities, with hotspots concentrated in coastal areas and cold spots in the northwest and northeast. (2) The HQUD levels consistently increased, forming a stepwise spatial pattern—highest in the east, followed by central and western regions—with localized spatial convergence. (3) The factors influencing HQUD are highly volatile. Industrial agglomeration, resource optimization, and land investment returns drive commercial land supply, investment intensity, and land prices, fostering positive development. However, excessive population density and inadequate public service land may impose pressure on resources and strained public services, hindering progress. Industrial land supply has supported industrial upgrading, shifting its impact from negative to positive. Over-reliance on real estate development can cause resource waste, social instability, and hinder sustainability, reversing the positive effects of residential land supply. This paper clarifies the complex relationship between construction land supply and HQUD, providing empirical guidance for region-specific land supply strategies. Full article

The rapid development of new-generation information technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain, is profoundly reshaping production and lifestyles, with regional development patterns. This study employs text analysis to extract the policy adoption timeline of cloud computing from official documents and constructs a quasi-natural experiment framework. First, spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis reveal significant spatial dependence in the urban green total factor productivity (GTFP). Accordingly, using panel data of 284 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2023, we apply a spatial difference-in-differences (SDID) model to empirically examine the impact of cloud computing on the urban GTFP. The results show that, first, the adoption of cloud computing significantly enhances the local GTFP, but simultaneously suppresses neighboring cities’ GTFP through the siphon effect, thereby generating negative spatial spillover effects. These findings remain robust across parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and multiple robustness tests. Second, mechanism analysis indicates that improved resource allocation efficiency and strengthened green innovation are the two core channels through which cloud computing promotes GTFP. Third, heterogeneity analysis reveals that cloud computing exhibits stronger siphon effects in smaller cities, generates significant positive spatial spillover effects in coastal regions, and effectively fosters GTFP growth within urban agglomerations, while exerting limited influence on non-agglomerated areas. Moreover, industrial agglomeration further amplifies the positive impact of cloud computing on GTFP. Additionally, from the perspective of regional policies, this study finds that promoting the integrated development of urban agglomerations, reducing administrative monopoly, facilitating free factor mobility, and advancing urban international economic activities are effective pathways to mitigate the siphon effect of cloud computing on the urban GTFP. Based on these findings, this study offers targeted policy recommendations to leverage cloud computing for advancing green and high-quality urban development. Full article

Compact urban land use planning and smart growth are essential strategies for tackling the issues of sustainable urban transportation development. In the context of swift global urbanization, examining the intrinsic relationship between urban spatial structure and transport systems might furnish a measurable foundation for urban planning decisions. This study utilizes various data sources, including Chinese city compactness and the Didi traffic index, to integrate exploratory spatial analysis and regression analysis methods. It examines the influence of city compactness on urban transportation by comparing average commuting time and speed relative to city compactness. The following findings are derived: The compactness of Chinese cities demonstrates notable regional differentiation, with western cities expanding uniformly and efficiently, whereas eastern cities display multi-centered, differentiated development in their spatial structures. Furthermore, Chinese cities exhibit a pronounced high-value agglomeration in commuting patterns, where major cities are characterized by high speeds and extended durations. The study reveals that city compactness creates a “concentration paradox” in commuting efficiency, which may reduce commuting distances but significantly decreases speed and extends travel time. The solution to this conflict is to prioritize the enhancement of public transport systems, as the increase in passenger volume is strongly positively connected with improved commuting speed and reduced commuting time. These findings offer a crucial scientific foundation for developing diverse regional spatial plans and transport development strategies. Full article

Climate change is a critical constraint on the development of new-quality productive forces (NQPFs), making it essential to clarify its relationship with urban development strategies to enhance productivity. Using panel data from 284 Chinese cities during 2010–2022, this study leverages the climate-resilient city pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment and applies a double machine learning approach to estimate both the causal impact and underlying mechanisms of this policy on NQPFs. We further examine heterogeneous effects across geographic regions and city types. Our findings show that first, climate-resilient urban development significantly boosts NQPFs, with results remaining robust across multiple sensitivity tests. Second, this effect operates through three key channels—talent agglomeration, data flow enhancement, and infrastructure-related industrial upgrading. Third, the policy’s impact is stronger in western and coastal cities; resource-based cities and non-environmentally protected cities exhibit greater responsiveness, amplifying the positive outcomes. This study provides systematic empirical evidence on the nexus between climate resilience and high-quality development, offering actionable insights for designing localized strategies to advance climate-resilient urbanization and foster high-quality productive forces. Full article

As the fundamental spatial carriers of population and economic activities, cities are central to advancing Chinese-style modernization, making the enhancement of their comprehensive carrying capacity (CCP) an essential pathway toward sustainable development. Drawing on panel data from 284 prefecture-level cities in China covering the period of 2005–2022, this study constructs a dynamic spatial Durbin model to examine how different forms of industrial agglomeration influence urban CCP. The results indicate the following: (1) Urban CCP demonstrates significant spatial dependence across cities. (2) Both specialization and diversification exert pronounced spatiotemporal lag effects. Specifically, specialized agglomeration tends to suppress the urban CCP of both local and neighboring cities, whereas diversified agglomeration generally contributes to its improvement. (3) The spatiotemporal effects of specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration on urban CCP exhibit heterogeneity across regions and economic development levels. Diversified agglomeration significantly enhances the CCP of cities in the central region and those with higher economic development levels, while the western region and cities with lower economic development levels are more suited for industrial specialized agglomeration. (4) Further research has found that specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration have heterogeneous spatiotemporal effects on different dimensions of urban CCP. These findings suggest that governments at all levels should formulate differentiated industrial agglomeration strategies that align with local resource endowments and industrial foundations, thereby fostering high-quality urban development tailored to local conditions. Full article

Currently, ozone (O₃) has become one of the primary air pollutants in China, underscoring the importance of analyzing ozone formation sensitivity (OFS) for effective pollution control. Ozone sensitivity indices serve as effective tools for OFS identification. Among them, the ratio of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to nitrogen oxides (NO_x)—such as the formaldehyde-to-nitrogen dioxide ratio (FNR, defined as HCHO/NO₂, where HCHO represents VOCs and NO₂ represents NO_x)—is one of the most widely used satellite-based indicators. Recent studies have highlighted glyoxal (CHOCHO) as another critical ozone precursor, prompting the proposal of the glyoxal-to-nitrogen dioxide ratio (GNR, CHOCHO/NO₂) as an alternative metric. This study systematically compares the performance of FNR and GNR across four major urban agglomerations in China: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and the Chengdu–Chongqing (CY) region, by integrating satellite remote sensing with ground-based observations. Results reveal that both indices exhibit consistent spatial trends in OFS distribution, transitioning from VOC-limited regimes in urban centers to NO_x-limited regimes in surrounding suburban areas. However, differences emerge in threshold values and classification outcomes. During summer, FNR identifies urban areas as transitional regimes (or VOC-limited in regions such as YRD and PRD), while suburban areas are classified as NO_x-limited. In contrast, GNR, which shows heightened sensitive to anthropogenic VOCs (AVOCs), exhibits a more restricted spatial extent in the transition regimes. By autumn, most urban areas shift toward VOC-limited regimes, while suburban regions remain NO_x-limited. Thresholds for both VOCs and NO_x increase during this period, with GNR demonstrating stronger sensitivity to NO_x. These findings underscore that the choice between FNR and GNR directly influences OFS determination, as their differing responses to biogenic and anthropogenic emissions lead to different conclusions. Future research should focus on integrating the complementary strengths of both indices to develop a more robust OFS identification method, thereby providing a theoretical basis for formulating effective ozone control strategies. Full article

Urban rail transit (URT) is becoming an important component of a modern city’s transportation infrastructure, which greatly improves the overall efficiency of urban mobility. However, it remains unclear whether URT systems stimulate economic growth through agglomeration effects or inadvertently hinder productivity through fiscal crowding-out effects. To address the question, we analyzed panel data from 26 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2020 through the theory of public service ecosystems (PSE) to interpret the effects of URT construction and operation on the economy from the dual perspectives of value creation and value destruction. We found that URT construction follows the law of diminishing marginal returns, whereas operational efficiency is positively associated with economic growth. Furthermore, URT construction usually exhibits stronger economic benefits in the central and western regions of China, whereas the optimization of operational efficiency is more effective in the eastern regions. Our findings offer phase-specific strategies for policymakers: prioritizing network expansion for emerging URT systems and formulating service innovation roadmaps for mature systems. Full article

Driven by the digital transformation of global value chains and the digital economy strategy outlined in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, international trade competition is increasingly centered on digital technology ecosystems. This study addresses the gap in existing research that often overlooks the critical role of cities as key nodes in digital technology and global value chains, as well as the mechanisms through which the digital economy influences urban export trade. Using panel data from 273 prefecture-level Chinese cities between 2006 and 2022, we apply fixed effects, mediation, and multiple threshold regression models to analyze the mechanisms and nonlinear effects of the digital economy on urban export performance. Results show that the digital economy significantly facilitates urban export trade, with its marginal impact moderated by regional development levels and factor endowment structures. Eastern and central cities exhibit stronger export-driving effects, benefiting from resource agglomeration. Technological innovation and human capital accumulation are identified as the main transmission channels through which the digital economy promotes export upgrading. Additionally, the relationship between digital economy development and export trade demonstrates significant nonlinear characteristics across different regional economic development stages. The study emphasizes bridging the regional digital divide and enhancing technological innovation and human capital efficiency to drive digital transformation and boost urban export vitality. Full article

As a pivotal engine of global economic growth, the digital economy provides nations with new momentum to achieve carbon neutrality. By driving inter-industry mobility and reallocation of production factors, the digital economy alters industrial agglomeration patterns, which ultimately influence carbon emissions. Understanding the intrinsic mechanisms through which the digital economy affects carbon emissions is therefore critical for both theoretical and practical significance in advancing green and low-carbon development. This study employs panel data from 278 Chinese cities (2011–2020) to investigate the mechanism by which the digital economy affects urban carbon emissions from the perspective of industrial agglomeration. Our findings indicate that the development of the digital economy significantly reduces urban carbon emissions; a one-percentage-point increase in digital economy development leads to a 0.091% decline in carbon emission intensity. Contrary to conventional expectations, however, higher levels of industrial agglomeration do not contribute to carbon reduction. Mediation analysis reveals that the digital economy enhances industrial agglomeration, which in turn weakens its direct carbon mitigation effect by approximately 6%. Furthermore, the impact varies across regions, city sizes, and industry sectors. These insights offer valuable policy implications for China’s digital transformation, industrial agglomeration optimization, and energy-saving strategies to achieve its dual carbon goals. Full article