Work

Does polycentric regional development promote economic resilience? Empirical evidence from urban agglomerations in China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: While the role of movement and exchanges (of goods, people, etc.) between economies, or flows, is underexplored in economic resilience literature, we introduce a flow-based framework incorporating effects of polycentricity and use it to analyse development in China during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We use individuals’ travel and enterprise registration data to gauge polycentricity and economic resilience, and apply regression models to explore their relationship across pandemic waves. The results demonstrate positive, yet, diminishing and even adverse effects of polycentricity on the regional scale as shocks progress. Policy makers should thus consider implementing targeted polycentricity-related actions aligned with different shock phases.

Source: Journal of Economic Geography

DOI: 10.1093/jeg/lbaf015

Authors: Xiang Ao, Qianwen Li, Tim Schwanen, Dariusz Wójcik

Institutions: University of Oxford, KU Leuven, National University of Singapore

Language: English

Topic: Regional resilience and development

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,638