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Does the opening of high-speed rail affect urban renewal? Evidence from China

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  • Li, Bowen
  • Wang, Zeqi
  • Zhang, Weijie

Abstract

This article examines the opening of HSR as a quasi-natural experiment, utilizing panel data from prefecture-level cities in China from 2001 to 2021. It employs the Difference-in-Differences (DID) method to estimate the impact of HSR construction, a critical transportation infrastructure, on the overall level of urban renewal. The research results show that the construction of HSR can significantly improve urban renewal. This result passed the parallel trend test and placebo test, confirming the robustness of the conclusion; the mechanism analysis shows that HSR affects the city's industrial structure and urban land use, infrastructure investment, ecology environment, and culture construction, and other multiple channels to promote the level of urban renewal from the four levels of urban construction, facility construction, ecology construction and culture construction; There is a certain degree of Heterogeneity in the impact on urban renewal among cities of different sizes and cities in other regions. The research findings of this article have significant policy implications for building HSR and its corresponding supporting facilities, as well as promoting urban industrial upgrading and high-quality development.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Bowen & Wang, Zeqi & Zhang, Weijie, 2025. "Does the opening of high-speed rail affect urban renewal? Evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:174:y:2025:i:c:s0967070x25004020
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2025.103859
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    JEL classification:

    • L91 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Transportation: General
    • P25 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics

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