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Has the opening of high-speed rail narrowed the inter-county economic gap? The perspective of China's state-designated poor counties

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  • Chen, Ming
  • Liu, Xiucai
  • Xiong, Xiancheng
  • Wu, Jiao

Abstract

This study used 2008–2017 panel data of 33 poor counties with high-speed rail (HSR) in China and 295 geographically adjacent non-poor counties without HSR, constructed a theoretical model of the impacts of HSR opening on the county economy from the perspective of state-designated poor counties, and empirically analyzed the impact of HSR opening on the inter-county economic gap using PSM-DID and other methods. The results showed the following: (1) The start of HSR might greatly decrease the inter-county economic gap and the results held after robustness and endogeneity tests; (2) the opening of HSR promoted the tertiary industry output in poor counties and further reduced the inter-county economic gap through them; and (3) increasing the fiscal budget revenue of poor counties will strengthen the impact of HSR opening on narrowing the inter-county economic gap, and the opening of HSR in the Eastern China with a better economic base can better contribute to narrowing the economic development gap between poor and non-poor counties.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Ming & Liu, Xiucai & Xiong, Xiancheng & Wu, Jiao, 2023. "Has the opening of high-speed rail narrowed the inter-county economic gap? The perspective of China's state-designated poor counties," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1-13.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:88:y:2023:i:c:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2023.05.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Li, Shuangyan & Wang, Dan & Tan, Xiao, 2025. "High-speed rail and urban energy efficiency: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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