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The Impact of High-Speed Rail on High-Quality Economic Development: Evidence from China

Author

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  • Xixi Feng

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Jixiao Li

    (School of Finance and Taxation, Hebei University of Economics and Business, Shijiazhuang 050061, China)

  • Yadan Liu

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

  • Weidong Li

    (School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China)

Abstract

Utilizing data from 282 prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2021, this study constructs an evaluation index system for high-quality economic development across the following five dimensions: innovation, coordination, green, openness, and sharing. A continuous difference-in-differences approach is employed for regression analysis to empirically examine the impact of high-speed rail on high-quality economic development, further exploring its mechanisms and spatial spillover effects. The findings reveal that (1) HSR significantly promotes high-quality economic development; (2) with the development of HSR, from 2005 to 2021, China’s high-quality economic development showed an evolutionary trend of overall improvement, with a gradual optimization of spatial patterns; (3) it facilitates high-quality economic development by enhancing capital and labor mobility, strengthening industrial chain resilience, and advancing industrial structure upgrading; (4) high-speed rail development in neighboring regions generates positive spatial spillover effects on local urban economic quality; and (5) the impact of high-speed rail on high-quality economic development exhibits significant heterogeneity across cities with different regions, tiers, scales, and resource endowments. These results confirm the positive role of high-speed rail in fostering high-quality economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Xixi Feng & Jixiao Li & Yadan Liu & Weidong Li, 2025. "The Impact of High-Speed Rail on High-Quality Economic Development: Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:7:p:1379-:d:1691460
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