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Invisible Threads, Tangible Impacts: Industrial Networks and Land Use Efficiency in Chinese Cities

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Efficient urban land use is a cornerstone of sustainable city development, yet the drivers of such efficiency are increasingly complex in an era of spatial transformation. As industrial specialization and collaboration deepen, cities are becoming interconnected through complex networks. These “invisible threads” are redefining the dynamics of land use and spatial efficiency. This study examines the influence of intercity industrial networks on urban land use efficiency by constructing urban networks from multi-regional input–output data and evaluating city performance using a super-SBM model. We employed Tobit regression and mediation analysis to identify the mechanisms. Results indicate that both the quantity and quality of urban network connections significantly enhance land use efficiency, with notable differences across city types. The positive effect of industrial network centrality is most pronounced in large cities. In growing cities, both the number and quality of industrial linkages promote efficiency, whereas in shrinking cities, connection quality is more critical than quantity. Mechanism analysis reveals that industrial networks improve land use efficiency primarily by expanding intermediate goods markets and fostering technological innovation.

Source: Urban Science

DOI: 10.3390/urbansci9090332

Authors: Tian Tian, Fubin Wang, Mingxin Song

Institutions: Renmin University of China, Durham University, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research

Language: English

Topic: Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930