The spatial correlation network and driving factors of economic resilience in the construction sector: evidence from China

The Chinese construction sector (CS) is the largest in the world in terms of total output value. Studying the economic resilience of the construction sector (ERCS) is thus of critical importance for the sustainable development of the CS globally. Regional differences in the CS economy have raised concerns about the spatial heterogeneity of the ERCS. In this study, the social network method and random forest models were used to explore the characteristics and driving factors of the ERCS spatial network. The findings reveal that the ERCS spatial network has a clear “center-edge” structure, with direct or indirect relationships across different regions as well as significant spatial spillover effects. The ERCS spatial network also exhibits a significant clustering pattern, with a high degree of internal integration and interdependence. Market size, technological innovation level, and industry scale were the main factors that promoted network formation. These insights provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive ERCS networks and offer guidance to countries aiming to develop sustainable growth strategies while also providing technical and managerial references to the global CS. This research framework thus serves as an effective complement to the sustainable development of the CS.