Work

Why high-speed rail causes heterogeneous spatial patterns in firm innovation: Perspectives from intensive and extensive margins

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines the impact of high-speed rail (HSR) on corporate innovation in China, analyzing county-level patent applications. Utilizing difference-in-differences regression, we break down the overall impact of HSR connectivity on innovation into two categories: extensive margins, where a greater number of firms become innovative, and intensive margins, where individual firms increase their level of innovation. HSR access has increased patent applications, particularly in manufacturing and non-high-tech services, affecting both margins. However, in high-tech services, the impact is significant only on the extensive margin. Effects vary between urban areas and peripheral counties, with knowledge spillovers and brain drain as key predictors.

Source: PLoS ONE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311621

Authors: Longfei Zheng, Huasheng Zhu, Kwok Yuen Fan, Zheng Chang

Institutions: Beijing Normal University, Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University

Language: English

Topic: Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,290