IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/riibaf/v77y2025ipas0275531925001631.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does cross-border e-commerce development promote the improvement of residents' income level? Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Cai, Lifeng
  • Du, Qunyang
  • Bao, Liner
  • Boateng, Agyenim
  • Li, Zhongyuan

Abstract

Cross-border e-commerce is an important driver of regional economic growth. This article evaluates the impact of the development of cross-border e-commerce commerce on residents' income based on panel data from 300 Chinese cities over the period 2002–2023 in China, using the establishment of a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zone as a quasi-natural experiment. By employing a difference-in-differences (DID) model, this study examines the impact of these pilot zones on residents’ income levels. The findings reveal that the establishment of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones significantly enhances residents’ income levels, and this conclusion remains robust across various tests. Mechanism analysis further indicate that these zones contribute to income growth through three primary channels: exports, industrial development, and employment. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone on residents’ income levels varies by city size and region. Specifically, these zones have a more significant effect on income levels in small cities. Regionally, the impact is particularly pronounced in the eastern region, moderately reduced in the central region, and negligible in the western region. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for promoting the income level of residents through the development of cross-border e-commerce.

Suggested Citation

  • Cai, Lifeng & Du, Qunyang & Bao, Liner & Boateng, Agyenim & Li, Zhongyuan, 2025. "Does cross-border e-commerce development promote the improvement of residents' income level? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(PA).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:77:y:2025:i:pa:s0275531925001631
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.102907
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275531925001631
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.102907?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Montobbio, Fabio & Rampa, Francesco, 2005. "The impact of technology and structural change on export performance in nine developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 527-547, April.
    2. Lv, Panpan & Xiong, Hu, 2022. "Can FinTech improve corporate investment efficiency? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    3. Christina W. Y. Wong & Xin Miao & Shuang Cui & Yanhong Tang, 2018. "Impact of Corporate Environmental Responsibility on Operating Income: Moderating Role of Regional Disparities in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 363-382, May.
    4. David H. Autor & David Dorn, 2013. "The Growth of Low-Skill Service Jobs and the Polarization of the US Labor Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(5), pages 1553-1597, August.
    5. Ha Minh Nguyen & Le Dang Nguyen, 2018. "The relationship between urbanization and economic growth," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 45(2), pages 316-339, February.
    6. Ross, Stephen L. & Zenou, Yves, 2008. "Are shirking and leisure substitutable? An empirical test of efficiency wages based on urban economic theory," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 498-517, September.
    7. Bournakis, Ioannis & Tsoukis, Christopher, 2016. "Government size, institutions, and export performance among OECD economies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 37-47.
    8. Cecilia Garcia-Penalosa & Eve Caroli & Philippe Aghion, 1999. "Inequality and Economic Growth: The Perspective of the New Growth Theories," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(4), pages 1615-1660, December.
    9. Jinzhou Geng & Chenggang Li, 2020. "Empirical Research on the Spatial Distribution and Determinants of Regional E-Commerce in China: Evidence from Chinese Provinces," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(13), pages 3117-3133, October.
    10. Hongryol Cha & Masaaki Kotabe & Jie Wu, 2023. "Reshaping Internationalization Strategy and Control for Global E-Commerce and Digital Transactions: A Hayekian Perspective," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 161-192, February.
    11. Lin Xiao & Xusen Cheng & Jian Mou, 2022. "Understanding global e-commerce development during the COVID-19 pandemic: Technology-Organization-Environment perspective," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 1-6, January.
    12. Baldacci, Emanuele & Clements, Benedict & Gupta, Sanjeev & Cui, Qiang, 2008. "Social Spending, Human Capital, and Growth in Developing Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 1317-1341, August.
    13. Lyu, Junli, 2024. "China cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone and urban residents' tourism consumption: empirical study based on CHFS data," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    14. Hua, Longxue & Wu, Yingliang, 2024. "Strategic analysis of vertical integration in cross-border e-commerce logistics service supply chains," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    15. Wang, Yizi & Li, Lanyi, 2024. "Digital economy, industrial structure upgrading, and residents' consumption: Empirical evidence from prefecture-level cities in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1045-1058.
    16. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10091 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Benedetti, Ilaria & Crescenzi, Federico, 2023. "The role of income poverty and inequality indicators at regional level: An evaluation for Italy and Germany," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    18. Ju, Jiandong & Yu, Xinding, 2015. "Productivity, profitability, production and export structures along the value chain in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 33-54.
    19. Andreoni, Antonio & Tregenna, Fiona, 2020. "Escaping the middle-income technology trap: A comparative analysis of industrial policies in China, Brazil and South Africa," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 324-340.
    20. David E. Bloom & David Canning & Günther Fink, 2008. "Urbanization and the Wealth of Nations," PGDA Working Papers 3008, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    21. Carlos Cinelli & Chad Hazlett, 2020. "Making sense of sensitivity: extending omitted variable bias," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 82(1), pages 39-67, February.
    22. Muinelo-Gallo, Leonel & Roca-Sagalés, Oriol, 2013. "Joint determinants of fiscal policy, income inequality and economic growth," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 814-824.
    23. Jinzhou Geng & Chenggang Li, 2020. "Empirical Research on the Spatial Distribution and Determinants of Regional E-Commerce in China: Evidence from Chinese Provinces," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(13), pages 3117-3133, October.
    24. Coondoo, Dipankor & Dinda, Soumyananda, 2002. "Causality between income and emission: a country group-specific econometric analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 351-367, March.
    25. Da Huo & Rihui Ouyang & Ken Hung & Baowen Sun, 2018. "Effect of Cross-Border E-Business Policy on the Export Trade of an Emerging Market: A Dynamic Study of Institutional Support to Cross-Border E-Business at Chinese Pilot Cities," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(14), pages 3153-3167, November.
    26. Liang, Shuang & Tan, Qingmei, 2024. "Can the digital economy accelerates China's export technology upgrading? Based on the perspective of export technology complexity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    27. Kazunobu Hayakawa & Nuttawut Laksanapanyakul & Taiyo Yoshimi, 2019. "How does import processing time impact export patterns?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(7), pages 2070-2088, July.
    28. Elena Podrecca & Gaetano Carmeci, 2001. "Fixed investment and economic growth: new results on causality," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(2), pages 177-182.
    29. Alexander Bilson Darku & Richard Yeboah, 2018. "Economic openness and income growth in developing countries: a regional comparative analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(8), pages 855-869, February.
    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. Jean Philippe Décieux & Alexandra Mergener, 2021. "German Labor Emigration in Times of Technological Change: Occupational Characteristics and Geographical Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Awaworyi Churchill Sefa & Ugur Mehmet & Yew Siew Ling, 2017. "Government education expenditures and economic growth: a meta-analysis," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 17(2), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Adnen Ben Nasr & Mehmet Balcilar & Rangan Gupta & Seyi Saint Akadiri, 2020. "Asymmetric effects of inequality on real output levels of the United States," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(1), pages 47-69, March.
    4. Dawid, H. & Harting, P. & Neugart, M., 2018. "Cohesion policy and inequality dynamics: Insights from a heterogeneous agents macroeconomic model," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 220-255.
    5. Ciminelli, Gabriele & Ernst, Ekkehard & Merola, Rossana & Giuliodori, Massimo, 2019. "The composition effects of tax-based consolidation on income inequality," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 107-124.
    6. Anzolin, Guendalina & Andreoni, Antonio & Zanfei, Antonello, 2022. "What is driving robotisation in the automotive value chain? Empirical evidence on the role of FDIs and domestic capabilities in technology adoption," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. David Castells-Quintana & Vicente Royuela, 2014. "Agglomeration, inequality and economic growth," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 52(2), pages 343-366, March.
    8. Emiliano Álvarez & Marcelo Álvez & Juan Gabriel Brida, 2020. "Impuesto progresivo al ingreso y crecimiento. Abordaje desde la complejidad," Documentos de trabajo 2020008, Banco Central del Uruguay.
    9. Churchill, Sefa Awawoyi & Yew, Siew Ling & Ugur, Mehmet, 2015. "Effects of government education and health expenditures on economic growth: a meta-analysis," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 14072, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    10. Pedro Bação & Marta Simões, 2020. "Is the Welfare State Relevant for Economic Growth? Evidence for Portugal," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 62(3), pages 494-520, September.
    11. Decheng Fan & Kairan Liu, 2021. "The Relationship between Artificial Intelligence and China’s Sustainable Economic Growth: Focused on the Mediating Effects of Industrial Structural Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-15, October.
    12. Alain Trannoy, 2015. "Inequality and welfare: Is Europe special?," Working Papers 384, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    13. Mark Rogers, 2003. "A Survey of Economic Growth," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 79(244), pages 112-135, March.
    14. Nicolau Martin‐Bassols & Sonja C. de New & David W. Johnston & Michael A. Shields, 2023. "Cognitive activity at work and the risk of dementia," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1561-1580, July.
    15. Beata Bierut & Piotr Dybka, 2019. "Institutional determinants of export competitiveness among the EU countries: evidence from Bayesian model averaging," NBP Working Papers 306, Narodowy Bank Polski.
    16. Chandika Gunasinghe & E. A. Selvanathan & Athula Naranpanawa & John Forster, 2021. "Rising Income Inequality in OECD Countries: Does Fiscal Policy Sacrifice Economic Growth in Achieving Equity?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(6), pages 1840-1876, December.
    17. Getachew, Yoseph Y. & Turnovsky, Stephen J., 2020. "Redistribution, inequality, and efficiency with credit constraints: Implications for South Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 259-277.
    18. Avenyo, Elvis Korku & Tregenna, Fiona, 2022. "Greening manufacturing: Technology intensity and carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    19. Zhou, Kuo & Wang, Qiaochu & Tao, Yunqing & Li, Xiaofan, 2024. "Information infrastructure construction and firm export performance in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    20. Riccardo Leoncini, 2017. "Innovation, inequality and the skill premium," SPRU Working Paper Series 2017-16, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:riibaf:v:77:y:2025:i:pa:s0275531925001631. 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/ribaf .

    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.