The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China

Abstract This research examines data from eight urban agglomerations in western China from 2003 to 2020 to investigate the impacts of spatial structure changes on economic growth. Using dynamic spatial econometrics, we find that spatial agglomeration has significant effects on the economic growth pe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jing Zhao, Na Chen, Zhen Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-04-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04782-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849765546121232384
author Jing Zhao
Na Chen
Zhen Jin
author_facet Jing Zhao
Na Chen
Zhen Jin
author_sort Jing Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This research examines data from eight urban agglomerations in western China from 2003 to 2020 to investigate the impacts of spatial structure changes on economic growth. Using dynamic spatial econometrics, we find that spatial agglomeration has significant effects on the economic growth performance of urban agglomerations in western China. Moreover, the direct effects of three indicators measuring spatial structure—population, industry and land use spatial structure—on economic growth are all directly positive. Moreover, these three spatial structure indicators affect economic growth through mediating variables such as environmental pollution, technological progress, and industrial structure. Further heterogeneity tests reveal that the positive effects of spatial structure on economic growth are increasing and that the positive effects expand from the short term to both the short and long term.
format Article
id doaj-art-306d7a27b94a45b8a815d4c21d2b24fa
institution DOAJ
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-306d7a27b94a45b8a815d4c21d2b24fa2025-08-20T03:04:49ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-04-0112111610.1057/s41599-025-04782-3The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western ChinaJing Zhao0Na Chen1Zhen Jin2School of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of TechnologySchool of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of TechnologySchool of Economics and Statistics, Xingzhi College of Xi’an University of Finance and EconomicsAbstract This research examines data from eight urban agglomerations in western China from 2003 to 2020 to investigate the impacts of spatial structure changes on economic growth. Using dynamic spatial econometrics, we find that spatial agglomeration has significant effects on the economic growth performance of urban agglomerations in western China. Moreover, the direct effects of three indicators measuring spatial structure—population, industry and land use spatial structure—on economic growth are all directly positive. Moreover, these three spatial structure indicators affect economic growth through mediating variables such as environmental pollution, technological progress, and industrial structure. Further heterogeneity tests reveal that the positive effects of spatial structure on economic growth are increasing and that the positive effects expand from the short term to both the short and long term.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04782-3
spellingShingle Jing Zhao
Na Chen
Zhen Jin
The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
title_full The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
title_fullStr The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
title_full_unstemmed The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
title_short The more centralized the spatial structure is, the greater the economic growth? Evidence from urban agglomerations in western China
title_sort more centralized the spatial structure is the greater the economic growth evidence from urban agglomerations in western china
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04782-3
work_keys_str_mv AT jingzhao themorecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina
AT nachen themorecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina
AT zhenjin themorecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina
AT jingzhao morecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina
AT nachen morecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina
AT zhenjin morecentralizedthespatialstructureisthegreatertheeconomicgrowthevidencefromurbanagglomerationsinwesternchina