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Industrial Structure Similarity and Urban Growth in the Chengdu–Chongqing Region: Exploratory Evidence and Spatial-Unit Sensitivity

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Urban agglomerations are central to contemporary economic development, yet the role of inter-city industrial similarity in shaping growth remains poorly understood. This study investigates how industrial structure similarity influences regional growth dynamics using evidence from the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration in China between 2000 and 2020. We show that industrial similarity does not exert a uniform effect on growth. Instead, it reflects a shifting balance between competition and coordination among cities. At lower levels, similarity intensifies homogeneous competition and constrains growth, whereas beyond a critical threshold, it facilitates coordination through industrial linkages and market integration. Moreover, the effects of similarity vary across development stages and differ under a dual-core structure, revealing how regional organization shapes economic outcomes. We further find that rapid structural upgrading—particularly excessive expansion of the service sector—may weaken growth performance, highlighting a mismatch between structural change and economic quality. These findings contribute to understanding how inter-city relationships influence development trajectories and offer broader insights into the governance of polycentric urban regions.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su182111038

Authors: Xuetong Song, Zhenjiang Tian, Haiyan Guo, Mingzhen Yu

Institutions: Chongqing University, Shihezi University

Language: English

Topic: Agglomeration and Urban Systems

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

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

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896