IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i19p12820-d936091.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Study on the Spatial Convergence Club and Growth Momentum of China’s Regional Economies

Author

Listed:
  • Qiaoli Xiao

    (School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China)

  • Yue Wang

    (School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200231, China)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the convergence pattern of China’s regional economies, explore the driving force of their coordinated development, and provide policy suggestions for coordinated and high-quality development. We used nighttime light data from 1992 to 2020 and combined an exploratory spatial data analytical method and a log-t test of a nonlinear time-varying factor model to identify the spatial convergence clubs of regional economic growth and the economic growth drivers of different clubs based on a spatial econometric model. We found that the eastern region is strong while the development of the central, western, and northeastern regions follows China’s long-term trend. Three high-level economic clubs (Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang belong to Club 1; Shandong, Hebei, Anhui, Henan, and Liaoning belong to Club 2; Hainan, Fujian, and Guangdong belong to Club 3) have formed in the eastern coastal and central regions, while a low-level one (Inner Mongolia, Hubei, Chongqing, Qinghai, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Xizang, Shaanxi, Gansu, Hunan, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, and Jilin) has formed in the central, western, and northeastern regions. Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanxi are not convergent. The coordinated development of these regions requires improving the levels of economic growth in the western and northeastern regions to give full play to the role of the Yangtze River Delta as a growth pole and its economic radiation capacity. An analysis of the influence mechanism and spatial spillover effects shows that industrial development and market vitality are the most important driving forces for economic growth. For the low-level club, service industry development, human capital, and resource consumption are also key factors for achieving sustained and stable economic growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiaoli Xiao & Yue Wang, 2022. "Study on the Spatial Convergence Club and Growth Momentum of China’s Regional Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12820-:d:936091
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12820/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/19/12820/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Feng Li & Guangdong Li & Weishan Qin & Jing Qin & Haitao Ma, 2018. "Identifying Economic Growth Convergence Clubs and Their Influencing Factors in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Qunxi Kong & Rongrong Li & Y. Ni & Dan Peng, 2022. "Does China’s green economic recovery generate a spatial convergence trend: an explanation using agglomeration effects and fiscal instruments," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2499-2526, November.
    3. Bickenbach, Frank & Bode, Eckhardt, 2001. "Markov or not Markov - this should be a question," Kiel Working Papers 1086, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    4. Zhengda Li & Dong Li & Wanping Yang & Xiaoyan Qi, 2022. "The spatial-temporal evolution and spatial convergence of ecological total factor productivity in china," Energy & Environment, , vol. 33(4), pages 617-639, June.
    5. Gabriel Rodríguez & Juan Palomino, 2019. "Peru's Regional Growth and Convergence in 1979-2017: An Empirical Spatial Panel Data Analysis," Documentos de Trabajo / Working Papers 2019-478, Departamento de Economía - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
    6. Weili Zhang & Jibin Fu & Quan Ju, 2020. "A study on the model of economic growth convergence in developing regions: an empirical analysis from Henan Province, China," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 547-567, August.
    7. Peter C. B. Phillips & Donggyu Sul, 2007. "Transition Modeling and Econometric Convergence Tests," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 75(6), pages 1771-1855, November.
    8. Weili Zhang & Wei Xu & Xiaoye Wang, 2019. "Regional convergence clubs in China: identification and conditioning factors," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 62(2), pages 327-350, April.
    9. Quah, Danny, 1993. "Empirical cross-section dynamics in economic growth," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(2-3), pages 426-434, April.
    10. Quah, Danny, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution: Stratification, Polarization, and Convergence Clubs," CEPR Discussion Papers 1586, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    11. Chenglin Qin & Xinyue Ye & Yingxia Liu, 2017. "Spatial Club Convergence of Regional Economic Growth in Inland China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-14, July.
    12. Wei Zou & Hao Zhou, 2007. "Classification of Growth Clubs and Convergence: Evidence from Panel Data in China, 1981–2004," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 15(5), pages 91-106, September.
    13. Jingmei Ma & Hongyu Jia, 2015. "The Role of Foreign Direct Investment on Income Convergence in China after Early 1990s from a Spatial Econometric Perspective," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 829-842, November.
    14. Rui Hao, 2008. "Opening up, Market Reforms, and Convergence Clubs in China," Post-Print hal-00284982, HAL.
    15. Tian, Xu & Zhang, Xiaoheng & Zhou, Yingheng & Yu, Xiaohua, 2016. "Regional income inequality in China revisited: A perspective from club convergence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 50-58.
    16. Danny Quah, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution," CEP Discussion Papers dp0324, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    17. Rui Hao, 2008. "Opening up, Market Reform, and Convergence Clubs in China," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 22(2), pages 133-160, June.
    18. Quah, Danny T, 1997. "Empirics for Growth and Distribution: Stratification, Polarization, and Convergence Clubs," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 27-59, March.
    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. Arfat Ahmad Sofi & Subash Sasidharan & Mohammad Younus Bhat, 2023. "Economic growth and club convergence: Is there a neighbour's effect?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 2475-2494, July.
    2. Jian-Xin Wu & Ling-Yun He, 2017. "The Distribution Dynamics of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Intensity across Chinese Provinces: A Weighted Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. K.P. Gluschenko (glu@nsu.ru ), 2010. "Income inequality in Russian regions: comparative analysis," Journal "Region: Economics and Sociology", Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering of Siberian Branch of RAS, vol. 4.
    4. Paul Johnson & Chris Papageorgiou, 2020. "What Remains of Cross-Country Convergence?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(1), pages 129-175, March.
    5. Patricio Aroca & Mariano Bosch & William F. Maloney, 2005. "Spatial Dimensions of Trade Liberalization and Economic Convergence: Mexico 1985--2002," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 19(3), pages 345-378.
    6. José Villaverde & Adolfo Maza, 2012. "Chinese per Capita Income Distribution, 1992–2007: A Regional Perspective," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 26(4), pages 313-331, December.
    7. Haupt, Harry & Schnurbus, Joachim & Semmler, Willi, 2018. "Estimation of grouped, time-varying convergence in economic growth," Econometrics and Statistics, Elsevier, vol. 8(C), pages 141-158.
    8. Eckey, Hans-Friedrich & Türck, Matthias, 2005. "Convergence of EU-regions: A literature report," Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsbeiträge 80, University of Kassel, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    9. Ordás Criado, C. & Grether, J.-M., 2011. "Convergence in per capita CO2 emissions: A robust distributional approach," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 637-665, September.
    10. Henryk Gurgul & Łukasz Lach, 2019. "Regional patterns in technological progress of Poland: the role of EU structural funds," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 27(4), pages 1195-1220, December.
    11. Pui Sun Tam, 2018. "Economic Transition and Growth Dynamics in Asia: Harmony or Discord?," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 60(3), pages 361-387, September.
    12. Weili Zhang & Wei Xu & Xiaoye Wang, 2019. "Regional convergence clubs in China: identification and conditioning factors," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 62(2), pages 327-350, April.
    13. Longfeng Ye & Peter E. Robertson, 2016. "On the Existence of a Middle-Income Trap," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 92(297), pages 173-189, June.
    14. Sayel Basel & R. Prabhakara Rao & K. U. Gopakumar, 2021. "Analysis of club convergence for economies: identification and testing using development indices," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 885-908, October.
    15. Sabyasachi Kar & Debajit Jha, 2021. "Divergent Policies for Convergence Clubs: A Study of PostReform Indian States," IEG Working Papers 449, Institute of Economic Growth.
    16. Kounetas, Konstantinos & Stergiou, Eirini, 2019. "Examining eco-efficiency convergence of European Industries.The existence of technological spillovers within a metafrontier framework," MPRA Paper 94286, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Eckey, Hans-Friedrich & Türck, Matthias, 2007. "Convergence of EU-Regions. A Literature Report," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 10, pages 5-32.
    18. Konstantin Gluschenko, 2010. "Methodologies of Analyzing Inter-Regional Income Inequality and Their Applications to Russia," William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series wp984, William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan.
    19. Kounetas, Konstantinos E. & Polemis, Michael L. & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2021. "Measurement of eco-efficiency and convergence: Evidence from a non-parametric frontier analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 291(1), pages 365-378.
    20. Kacou Yves Thierry Kacou, 2022. "Interregional inequality in Africa, convergence, and multiple equilibria: Evidence from nighttime light data," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 918-940, May.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12820-:d:936091. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.