IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecmode/v143y2025ics0264999324003195.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impact of the Yangtze River economic belt on high-quality economic development in China: Evidence from a spatial difference-in-differences model

Author

Listed:
  • He, Yu
  • Zhang, Xiaoqi
  • Zheng, Huan

Abstract

In September 2016, the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) was officially declared a major national strategic development region in China. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the impact of YREB implementation on environmental protection and economic growth, with limited research on sustainable economic development. Thus, based on city-level panel data during 2013–2020, this study examines the impact of YREB implementation on high-quality economic development (HQED) by using a spatial difference-in-differences model. Based on the findings, YREB implementation enhances the HQED of local regions, but not that of neighboring regions. Additionally, a mechanism analysis revealed that the policy effect is greater when the industrial structure is more advanced and human capital is richer. Meanwhile, YREB implementation only has a significant influence on HQED over the long term and in the eastern region. Overall, our study clarifies the role of YREB implementation in fostering sustainable economic development in the country.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Yu & Zhang, Xiaoqi & Zheng, Huan, 2025. "Impact of the Yangtze River economic belt on high-quality economic development in China: Evidence from a spatial difference-in-differences model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:143:y:2025:i:c:s0264999324003195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106962
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264999324003195
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106962?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cosimo Beverelli & Alexander Keck & Mario Larch & Yoto V Yotov, 2024. "Institutions, trade, and development: identifying the impact of country-specific characteristics on international trade," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 76(2), pages 469-494.
    2. Liu, Yunqiang & Zhu, Jialing & Li, Eldon Y. & Meng, Zhiyi & Song, Yan, 2020. "Environmental regulation, green technological innovation, and eco-efficiency: The case of Yangtze river economic belt in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Kunpeng Ai & Ning Xu, 2023. "Does Regional Integration Improve Carbon Emission Performance?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment on Regional Integration in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Li, Feng & Liu, Hao & Ma, Yinhan & Xie, Xiaohua & Wang, Yunshu & Yang, Yejun, 2022. "Low-carbon spatial differences of renewable energy technologies: Empirical evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Zhang, Yi & Kumar, Sanjay & Huang, Xianhai & Yuan, Yiming, 2023. "Human capital quality and the regional economic growth: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    6. Zhao, Feifei & Hu, Zheng & Yi, Ping & Zhao, Xu, 2024. "Does environmental decentralization improve industrial ecology? Evidence from China's Yangtze River Economic Belt," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1250-1270.
    7. Aman, Zunaira & Mallick, Sushanta & Nemlioglu, Ilayda, 2022. "Currency regimes and external competitiveness: the role of institutions, trade agreements and monetary frameworks," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 399-428, June.
    8. Kailu Guo & Shixiang Li & Zhanqi Wang & Jianru Shi & Jun Bai & Jinhua Cheng, 2021. "Impact of Regional Green Development Strategy on Environmental Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Gong, Maoyu & Zhang, Ning, 2023. "Drivers of China's high-quality development: The role of intangible factors," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    10. Wu, Xianhua & Tian, Zhiqing & Kuai, Yun & Song, Shunfeng & Marson, Stephen M., 2022. "Study on spatial correlation of air pollution and control effect of development plan for the city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Zhao, Xin & Shang, Yuping & Song, Malin, 2020. "Industrial structure distortion and urban ecological efficiency from the perspective of green entrepreneurial ecosystems," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Lianghu Wang & Jun Shao, 2024. "Can Digitalization Improve the High-quality Development of Manufacturing? An Analysis Based on Chinese Provincial Panel Data," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 2010-2036, March.
    13. Guo, Bingnan & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Hao & Liang, Chunyan & Feng, Yu & Hu, Feng, 2023. "Impact of the digital economy on high-quality urban economic development: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    14. Wang, Lianghu & Wang, Zhao & Ma, Yatian, 2022. "Does environmental regulation promote the high-quality development of manufacturing? A quasi-natural experiment based on China's carbon emission trading pilot scheme," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    15. Yang Liu & Jing Li & Li Lei & Lingli Xiao, 2022. "FDI inflows and the economic growth of city clusters: evidence from China's Yangtze River Economic Belt," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 470-494, July.
    16. Yang, Yuxue & Su, Xiang & Yao, Shuangliang, 2021. "Nexus between green finance, fintech, and high-quality economic development: Empirical evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Luo, Kang & Liu, Yaobin & Chen, Pei-Fen & Zeng, Mingli, 2022. "Assessing the impact of digital economy on green development efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    18. Song, Yan & Zhang, Xiao & Zhang, Ming, 2021. "The influence of environmental regulation on industrial structure upgrading: Based on the strategic interaction behavior of environmental regulation among local governments," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    19. Yu, Yantuan & Zhang, Ning & Kim, Jong Dae, 2020. "Impact of urbanization on energy demand: An empirical study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    20. Zheng, Huan & Wu, Shaofan, 2024. "The spatial effect of financial openness on high-quality economic development: Evidence from provincial-level data in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    21. Rahman, Mohammad Mafizur & Alam, Khosrul, 2021. "Clean energy, population density, urbanization and environmental pollution nexus: Evidence from Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1063-1072.
    22. Wang, Xinyue & Wang, Qing, 2021. "Research on the impact of green finance on the upgrading of China's regional industrial structure from the perspective of sustainable development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    23. Keyao Yu & Zhigang Li, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Assessing carbon emission and energy efficiency in Yangtze River economic belt cities, China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-31, February.
    24. Zhang, Zeyi & Luo, Xuehua & Hu, Huiying & Du, Jiating & Xu, Baoliang, 2023. "Market integration and urban air quality: Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 910-928.
    25. Wang, Fayuan & Wang, Rong & He, Zhili, 2021. "The impact of environmental pollution and green finance on the high-quality development of energy based on spatial Dubin model," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    26. Chien-Chiang Lee & Mingli Zeng & Kang Luo, 2022. "The Impact of Green Development on Modernization in China: Evidence from 108 Cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(13), pages 3664-3688, October.
    27. Zhou, Bing & Zeng, Xiaoyan & Jiang, Lu & Xue, Bing, 2020. "High-quality Economic Growth under the Influence of Technological Innovation Preference in China: A Numerical Simulation from the Government Financial Perspective," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 163-172.
    28. Zhang, Lixia & Sun, Huaping & Pu, Tianlong & Sun, Hui & Chen, Zhenling, 2024. "Do green finance and hi-tech innovation facilitate sustainable development? Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1430-1442.
    29. Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Xu & Zhang, Rui & Zhang, Xun, 2022. "The impact of road infrastructure on economic circulation: Market expansion and input cost saving," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    30. Zunaira Aman & Brigitte Granville & Sushanta K. Mallick & Ilayda Nemlioglu, 2024. "Does greater financial openness promote external competitiveness in emerging markets? The role of institutional quality," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(1), pages 486-510, January.
    31. Keyao Yu & Zhigang Li, 2024. "Retraction Note: Assessing carbon emission and energy efficiency in Yangtze River economic belt cities, China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 1-1, December.
    32. Alam, Khalid Mehmood & Li, Xuemei & Baig, Saranjam & Ghanem, Osman & Hanif, Salman, 2021. "Causality between transportation infrastructure and economic development in Pakistan: An ARDL analysis," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zheng, Huan & Wu, Shaofan, 2024. "The spatial effect of financial openness on high-quality economic development: Evidence from provincial-level data in China," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    2. He, Yu & Deng, Jiaxin & Zhang, Xiaoqi, 2024. "How does the technological finance cooperation pilot policy affect prefecture-level cities’ high quality economic development in China?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    3. Liu, Yang & Zhao, Xiaomeng & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2023. "Assessing the role of green finance in sustainable energy investments by power utilities: Evidence from China," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Tao Shi, 2022. "The Spatiotemporal Evolutionary Trend and Driving Factors of the Coupling Coordinated Development between Regional Green Finance and Ecological Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Tang, Xinmeng & Zhou, Xiaoguang, 2023. "Impact of green finance on renewable energy development: A spatiotemporal consistency perspective," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 320-337.
    6. Tuo Su, 2024. "Investigating Science and Technology Finance and Its Implications on Real Economy Development: A Performance Evaluation in Chinese Provinces," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 10442-10469, September.
    7. Liu, Jiamin & Zhang, Jiaoning & Ma, Xiaoyu & Zhao, Bin & Zhang, Mengyu, 2024. "The road to sustainable development: Can the new energy demonstration city policy promote the industrial structure transformation?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    8. Zhang, Huaqing & Cai, Cen & Zhang, Xiangjian & Tu, Yongqian & Zhu, Qianyu, 2024. "Relationship between business environment and regional innovation level: Examining the moderating role of digital finance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    9. Zi Tang & Xiaopeng Si & Yan Liang, 2024. "Research on the measurement of high-quality development of tourism: a case study of Heilongjiang Province, China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 25027-25047, October.
    10. Xiaokai Meng & Ghulam Muhammad Shaikh, 2023. "Evaluating Environmental, Social, and Governance Criteria and Green Finance Investment Strategies Using Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy WASPAS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.
    11. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Fuhao & Chang, Yu-Fang, 2023. "Does green finance promote renewable energy? Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    12. Nepal, Rabindra & Zhao, Xiaomeng & Liu, Yang & Dong, Kangyin, 2024. "Can green finance strengthen energy resilience? The case of China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    13. Shangui Peng & Jian Wang & Hao Sun & Zhengning Guo, 2022. "How Does the Spatial Misallocation of Land Resources Affect Urban Industrial Transformation and Upgrading? Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Xing Xiong & Yuxing Wang & Bin Liu & Wenhong He & Xinghou Yu, 2023. "The impact of green finance on the optimization of industrial structure: Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(8), pages 1-30, August.
    15. Youshuai Sun & Demi Zhu & Zhenyu Zhang & Na Yan, 2022. "Does Fiscal Stress Improve the Environmental Efficiency? Perspective Based on the Urban Horizontal Fiscal Imbalance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
    16. Qiao, Sen & Zhao, Dong Hao & Guo, Zi Xin & Tao, Zhang, 2022. "Factor price distortions, environmental regulation and innovation efficiency: An empirical study on China's power enterprises," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    17. Lei Nie & Purong Chen & Xiuli Liu & Qinqin Shi & Jing Zhang, 2022. "Coupling and Coordinative Development of Green Finance and Industrial-Structure Optimization in China: Spatial-Temporal Difference and Driving Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Shaolong Zeng & Qinyi Fu & Fazli Haleem & Yang Shen & Jiedong Zhang, 2023. "Carbon-Reduction, Green Finance, and High-Quality Economic Development: A Case of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    19. Sun, Huaping & Tariq, Gulzara & Youn, Ik Joong & Mansoor, Sofia, 2022. "Impacts of green energy finance on eco-friendly environments," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    20. Tian, Lichuan & Sun, Kai & Yang, Jie & Zhao, Yang, 2024. "Does digital economy affect corporate ESG performance? New insights from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 964-980.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:143:y:2025:i:c:s0264999324003195. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30411 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.