The Impact and Mechanism of New-Type Urbanization on New Quality Productive Forces: Empirical Evidence from China

Xiaotian Gao, Xiangwu Yan (), Sheng Song and Ning Xu
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Xiaotian Gao: School of Marxism, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Xiangwu Yan: School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China
Sheng Song: School of Marxism, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Ning Xu: School of Political Science and Public Administration, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-22

Abstract: The development of new-type urbanization (NTU) represents a crucial strategic approach to fostering new drivers of economic growth. Despite its importance, limited research has explored the effects and underlying mechanisms through which NTU influences new quality productive forces (NQPFs), key indicators of emerging economic dynamism. Addressing this research gap, the present study analyzes panel data from 283 Chinese cities spanning from 2009 to 2022, applying a difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically evaluate the impact of the New-Type Urbanization Pilot Policy (NTUPP) on NQPFs. The findings reveal that the NTUPP has a significant positive effect on NQPFs, a conclusion that is supported by a series of robustness and endogeneity checks. Specifically, the NTUPP’s implementation corresponds to an average increase of 1.1% in NQPFs. The policy facilitates NQPF growth primarily through mechanisms such as talent agglomeration and optimal resource allocation. Notably, the NTUPP is particularly effective in boosting NQPFs at lower initial levels. Since NQPFs inherently reflect green productivity, NTU’s emphasis on green, low-carbon, and civilizational features markedly amplifies the policy’s positive impact on NQPFs, while NTU’s focus on smart urbanization aspects appears to mitigate this effect. These findings contribute valuable empirical insights from the Chinese context, highlighting the potential of NTU to accelerate new economic growth drivers.

Keywords: New-Type Urbanization Pilot Policy; new quality productive forces; difference-in-differences; talent agglomeration; optimal resource allocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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