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A Coal in the Snow or the Icing on the Cake? China’s development zone upgrading and regional economic resilience

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  • Zhu, Lu
  • He, Yong
  • Chen, Chunfeng
  • Liao, Nuo

Abstract

In the context of globalization-induced uncertainty, economic resilience has attracted increasing attention as a key indicator of an economy’s capacity to resist shocks. This study investigates how China’s provincial-to-national development zone upgrading policy influences regional economic resilience. Our findings reveal that: Development zone upgrades significantly enhance regional economic resilience. Digital infrastructure, digital financial inclusion, advanced industrial structure, market linkages, human capital, and intellectual capital positively drive policy effectiveness. Policy effects exhibit distinct spatiotemporal heterogeneity, with more pronounced impacts during 2008–2012 and 2018–2021, in Eastern and Northeastern regions, the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and small-to-medium non-central, non-provincial capital cities. The catch-up effect exists in both policy effects and driving factors, with greater impacts on cities with lower economic resilience. Economic and technological development zone upgrades show stronger effects than high-tech industrial development zones, with multiple zone upgrades outperforming single zone upgrades, and cities with both types of zones benefiting more.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Lu & He, Yong & Chen, Chunfeng & Liao, Nuo, 2026. "A Coal in the Snow or the Icing on the Cake? China’s development zone upgrading and regional economic resilience," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:202:y:2026:i:c:s0148296325005946
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115771
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