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Deciphering the Spatial Structures of City Networks in the Economic Zone of the West Side of the Taiwan Strait through the Lens of Functional and Innovation Networks

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  • Yan Ma

    (School of Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, China)

  • Feng Xue

    (School of Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian, China)

Abstract

Globalization and the spread of information have made city networks more complex. The existing research on city network structures has usually focused on discussions of regional integration. With the development of interconnections among cities, however, the characterization of city network structures on a regional scale is limited in the ability to capture a network’s complexity. To improve this characterization, this study focused on network structures at both regional and local scales. Through the lens of function and innovation, we characterized the city network structure of the Economic Zone of the West Side of the Taiwan Strait through a social network analysis and a Fast Unfolding Community Detection algorithm. We found a significant imbalance in the innovation cooperation among cities in the region. When considering people flow, a multilevel spatial network structure had taken shape. Among cities with strong centrality, Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Whenzhou had a significant spillover effect, which meant the region was depolarizing. Quanzhou and Ganzhou had a significant siphon effect, which was unsustainable. Generally, urbanization in small and midsize cities was common. These findings provide support for government policy making.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Ma & Feng Xue, 2019. "Deciphering the Spatial Structures of City Networks in the Economic Zone of the West Side of the Taiwan Strait through the Lens of Functional and Innovation Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:10:p:2975-:d:234203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kang Wu & Jingxian Tang & Ying Long, 2019. "Delineating the Regional Economic Geography of China by the Approach of Community Detection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Yan Ma & Huanli Zhang, 2022. "The Structural Features and Centrality Optimization of a Firm Interlocking Network of the Nodal Cities on the South Route of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road: The Case of Fujian Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Qingqing Ye & Jiwei Li & Xuesong Kong & Shaokai Zhang, 2021. "Identification and Optimization of the Spatial Structure of Urban and Rural Settlements from a Hierarchical Network Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, November.
    4. Yao, Li & Li, Jun & Li, Jian, 2020. "Urban innovation and intercity patent collaboration: A network analysis of China’s national innovation system," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Yameng Wang & Zhe Chen & Xiumei Wang & Mengyang Hou & Feng Wei, 2021. "Research on the Spatial Network Structure and Influencing Factors of the Allocation Efficiency of Agricultural Science and Technology Resources in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-23, November.
    6. Mingbo Sun & Xueqing Zhang & Xiaoxiao Zhang, 2022. "The Impact of a Multilevel Innovation Network and Government Support on Innovation Performance—An Empirical Study of the Chengdu–Chongqing City Cluster," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.

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