Intercity innovation collaboration and the role of high-speed rail connections: evidence from Chinese co-patent data

Yao Li and Jun Li

Regional Studies, 2022, vol. 56, issue 11, 1845-1857

Abstract: This study explores the extent to which changes in transport infrastructure counterbalance pre-existing geographical friction and foster innovation collaboration, using the Chinese high-speed rail (HSR) construction as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a comprehensive dataset of city-pair co-patents from 2005 to 2018, we show that HSR connections significantly increase intercity co-patents, patent quality and collaborative partnerships, and such effects are strongest for city-pairs within 250 km and decrease for longer distances. Moreover, the HSR effect is stronger for cities in similar institutional settings, indicating a negative moderating effect of institutional distance. Various robustness methods are used to confirm the validity of our findings.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.2008340

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