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Heterogeneous impacts of China's economic and development zone program

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  • Anthony Howell

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of economic and development zones (EDZs) on the productivity of incumbent firms in China. To deal with the selection issue, I first take into account potentially different selection mechanisms across two popular types of EDZs—economic and technological development zones (ETDZs) and high‐tech development zones (HTDZs)—by relying on multiple treatment propensity scores matching techniques. Next, I apply the difference‐in‐differences estimator to the matched sample and conduct an event study analysis. The results show that the respective effects of ETDZs and HTDZs on firm productivity are positive, but subject to a nonlinear trend over time. The size of the productivity gains depends critically on the type of EDZ, however. A new HTDZ (ETDZ) leads to an average productivity gain of up to 30.2% (18.4%) for incumbent firms in the 5 years after the zone was created. These findings suggest that the size of productivity spillovers for spatially targeted firms differ quite significantly depending on the strategic development and policy goals of the EDZ: HTDZs that focus on promoting indigenous‐based factors of learning lead to higher productivity spillovers compared with ETDZs that focus on promoting extra‐local linkages.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Howell, 2019. "Heterogeneous impacts of China's economic and development zone program," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(5), pages 797-818, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jregsc:v:59:y:2019:i:5:p:797-818
    DOI: 10.1111/jors.12465
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang Shen & Jing Wu & Shuping Wu, 2022. "City‐chief turnover and place‐based policy change: Evidence from China," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(5), pages 1296-1328, November.
    2. Laiqun Jin & Xiuyan Liu & Sam Hak Kan Tang, 2021. "High-Technology Zones, Misallocation of Resources among Cities and Aggregate Productivity: Evidence from China," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 21-11, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    3. Ling Li & Fangzhou Xia, 2023. "City subcenter as a regional development policy: Impact on the property market," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(3), pages 643-673, June.
    4. Anthony Howell & Chong Liu & Rudai Yang, 2020. "Explaining the urban premium in Chinese cities and the role of place-based policies," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 52(7), pages 1332-1356, October.
    5. Anthony Howell, 2020. "Picking 'winners' in space: Impact of spatial targeting on firm performance in China," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1025-1046, November.
    6. Ziliang Liu & Shengjun Zhu, 2021. "Changing institutional context and regional industrial dynamics: New evidence from the establishment of administrative approval centers in China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3), pages 1271-1294, September.
    7. Zehong Wang & Shaojian Wang & Jieyu Wang & Yuqu Wang, 2022. "Development zones and urban economic performance in China: Direct impact and channel effects," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 1762-1782, December.
    8. Wenwen Wang, 2021. "The heterogeneity of agglomeration effect: Evidence from Chinese cities," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 392-424, March.

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