Essays in spatial economics and regional development

Yang, Yujing (2025). Essays in spatial economics and regional development. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

Regional economic development is rarely evenly spread across space, but rather presents geographical characteristics such as agglomeration, imbalance, path dependence, and spatial spillovers. We aim to explore how infrastructure construction, economic flow patterns, and the dynamic development of cities together shape the way regional inequality evolves over time.

This thesis consists of three essays studying how transport infrastructure spatially impacts regional economic development in China. The first chapter examines the heterogeneous spillover impacts of rail, road, and inland waterway infrastructure on regional industries to explore region-specific variations and the importance of more targeted investment strategies. Then, the second chapter introduces a novel geographic approach for constructing instru- mental variables with exogenous geographical weight matrices, emphasising the importance of selecting appropriate spatial filters and synthetic tools for mitigating bias in extensive observational data. The last chapter as the third one investigates how market access to major cities influences urban economic resilience and demonstrates the significant role of connectivity in enhancing economic resilience and fostering regional cooperation.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):