Can River-Sea Connectivity Empower People-Oriented Development? The Influence Mechanism of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor on New-Type Urbanization

Peng Ran; Yifan Chen

doi:10.62051/ijgem.v10n8.08

Authors

Peng Ran School of Economics and Management, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
Yifan Chen School of Economics and Management, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62051/ijgem.v10n8.08

Keywords:

New Western Land-Sea Corridor, New-type urbanization, Difference-in-differences, Double machine learning, Synthetic control method

Abstract

Using the construction of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor as a quasi-natural experiment, this study examines its effects on new-type urbanization with provincial panel data for 2011–2023. A staggered difference-in-differences model, double machine learning, and the synthetic control method are employed. The results show that corridor construction significantly improves the quality of provincial new-type urbanization, and the finding remains robust to parallel-trends tests, placebo tests, and alternative estimators. Mechanism tests indicate that the policy not only has a direct enabling effect but also operates through three channels: improved market access, industrial upgrading, and a narrower urban-rural income gap. The effects are stronger in southwestern provinces and provinces with higher initial urbanization, while the marginal impact is greater where financial development is initially lower. These findings provide evidence for coordinating transport-corridor development with people-oriented urbanization and offer policy implications for improving corridor efficiency, strengthening industrial support, and advancing regional coordination.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Zheng, S., Zhang, Y., & Chen, J. (2026). The driving effect of unblocked dual circulation on economic growth—taking the construction of the New Western Land Sea Corridor as an example. Economics (Quarterly), 26(1), 151–167. [In Chinese]

[2] Xu, P., & Sun, M. (2023). Spatial economic effects of the construction of the New Southwest Land Sea Corridor: A perspective on promoting coordinated development of east and west China. China Soft Science, (8), 96–107. [In Chinese]

[3] Zhang, Y., Xie, J., & Cai, M. (2026). Borrowing routes to stabilize supply: Can the construction of international trade corridors stabilize supply chain risks. World Economic Research, (1), 27–42, 134. [In Chinese]

[4] Sun, P., & Han, S. (n.d.). From “smooth flow of goods” to “maximizing the use of goods”: Research on the impact of the New Western Land Sea Corridor on enterprise capacity utilization. Nankai Management Review. Advance online publication. [Retrieved December 1, 2025]. [In Chinese]

[5] Cheng, J., Chen, J., Yang, Z., et al. (2025). Resilience analysis of the sino european trade transportation networks: The role of the New western land sea corridor. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 201, 104284.

[6] Ding, R., Zhang, T., Qiu, Y., et al. (2022). Study on the Evolution and Coupling Coordinated Development of Passenger and Freight Transport Network of New Western Land Sea Corridor. Applied Sciences, 12(22), 11554.

[7] Chen, Y., Tu, Y., & Li, X. (2025). New Western Land Sea Corridor and urban population agglomeration—estimation based on quantitative spatial model. Economic Research, 60(7), 42–61. [In Chinese]

[8] Zong, H., Wang, C., Zhang, D., et al. (2026). Spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and optimization paths of urban networks along the New Western Land Sea Corridor. Economic Geography, 46(1), 67–75. [In Chinese]

[9] Wei, Y., Wu, G., Lai, S., et al. (2025). Impact path of land ecosystem health on carbon sequestration service flow in the New Western Land Sea Corridor. Chinese Land Science, 39(9), 109–122. [In Chinese]

[10] Tang, Y., Gao, S., Cheng, Y., et al. (2025). Spatiotemporal evolution and influencing factors of Resource Environment pressure: a case of the new Western Land Sea corridor in China. Environment, Development and Sustainability. Advance online publication.

[11] Liu, B., Luo, H., & Liu, X. (n.d.). Spatiotemporal characteristics and driving mechanisms of coupling coordination between elderly care resource allocation and new type urbanization. Geographical Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.13249/j.cnki.sgs.20251474 [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[12] Zhao, L., & Qiu, L. (n.d.). Coupling and coordination research on the new type urbanization level and agricultural green development efficiency in the Yellow River Basin. China Agricultural Resources and Zoning. Advance online publication. https://link.cnki.net/urlid/11.3513.S.20260409.1838.030 [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[13] Zhang, K., Zhou, J., Zhang, Z., et al. (n.d.). Spatiotemporal transition and driving factors of carbon emission efficiency in counties in Shanxi Province during the new type urbanization process. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.13870/j.cnki.stbcxb.2026.04.016 [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[14] Zhang, Y., & Shu, F. (n.d.). The mechanism of new type urbanization's impact on the collaborative development of urban digitalization and greening and its spatial spillover effect a quasi natural experiment based on the new type urbanization comprehensive pilot policy. Regional Research and Development. Advance online publication. [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[15] Ma, Y., Meng, J., & Liu, D. (2026). Research on the impact mechanism and heterogeneity of new type urbanization construction on economic green transformation. Ecological Economy, 42(4), 94–103. [In Chinese]

[16] Zhou, C., Ding, Q., Tian, Y., et al. (n.d.). Spatial correlation network characteristics and driving mechanism of high quality development of new type urbanization in China. Geography of Arid Areas. Advance online publication. [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[17] Liu, X., Li, Z., & Chen, Y. (n.d.). Research on the impact of data element flow on new type urbanization taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt as an example. Mathematical Statistics and Management. Advance online publication. [Retrieved May 8, 2026]. [In Chinese]

[18] Wu, J., & Guo, Y. (2024). Digital economy promotes the development of new type urbanization: analysis based on spatial Durbin model and threshold model. Resource Development and Market, 40(9), 1350–1361. [In Chinese]

[19] Wang, Y. (2024). New urbanization and high quality development of the commercial and trade circulation industry: Research on temporal and spatial differentiation and interaction mechanisms. Business Economics Research, (10), 31–34. [In Chinese]

[20] Zhang, Y., Zhu, Y., & Zhang, H. (2024). Regional differences and convergence analysis of the coupled and coordinated development of China's digital economy and new type urbanization. Exploration of Economic Issues, (4), 1–15. [In Chinese]

[21] Abadie, A., Diamond, A., & Hainmueller, J. (2015). Comparative politics and the synthetic control method. American Journal of Political Science, 59(2), 495–510.

[22] Wu, B., Guo, Y., Dai, T., et al. (2020). Empirical study on the co integration relationship between regional highway transportation and new type urbanization. Highway Transportation Science and Technology, 37(3), 145–150. [In Chinese]

[23] Zhu, G., Li, F., & Zou, W. (2020). Analysis of the impact of industrial structure upgrading on the quality of urbanization development. Lanzhou Academic Journal, (10), 128–142. [In Chinese]

[24] Zhou, X., & Wang, C. (2023). Research on the impact of digital economy and new type urbanization on urban rural income gap Empirical analysis based on spatial Durbin model. Journal of Agricultural and Forestry Economics and Management, 22(6), 780–791. [In Chinese]