Interurban Consumption Flows of Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River: A Network Approach

Lei Wang, Wenyi Yang, Yueyun Yuan and Chengliang Liu
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Lei Wang: Institute of Regional and Urban-Rural Development, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Yueyun Yuan: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Chengliang Liu: Institute for Global Innovation and Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Network analysis through the lens of traffic flows is becoming the focus of urban-region research in the context of globalization. This study examines the network relationship among 31 cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River from the perspective of consumption flow that is serving as an increasingly important engine for China’s growth in general and regional momentum in particular. By tracing the directions and magnitudes of bank card transactions in 2016 as provided by Chinese UnionPay, this paper finds: (1) Three capital cities dominate both outward and inward flow networks and have net outflows, whereas others are featured with inward consumption flow; (2) Most interurban flows occur within provincial boundary, which leaves this whole region without a city-generating global impact; (3) Eight sub-networks composed of adjoining few cities can be further identified that have closer connections to the one containing capital city in that province. Based on these findings related to boundary effect, this paper concludes with a vision for more integrated consumption networks in the context of this region.

Keywords: consumption flow; urban network; urban agglomeration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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