Dialectical Discussion of Regional Innovation, Population Agglomeration, and Economic Growth

This paper delves into the dynamic interplay among regional innovation, population agglomeration, and economic growth within the expansive landscape of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) of China. To scrutinize the intricate connections and inherent characteristics of the selected indicators, we employ ARDL econometric estimation; specifically, the study adopts a bond estimation approach to unravel and establish potential long-term relationships among underlined factors. The sample encompasses panel data from a comprehensive set of 108 cities spanning 9 provinces and 2 municipalities directly under the Central Government of the YREB, spanning the years 2012 to 2022. The results illuminate a robust and enduring relationship among regional innovation, population agglomeration, and economic growth in the YREB. On the front of regional innovation, the study reveals that the aspects of regional innovation and population agglomeration in YREB cities exhibit a marked territorial nature, with a substantial gap between the leading, middle, and trailing ends in terms of their affiliation with the YREB. Notably, cities closer to the tail end display a greater role and input. This disparity in development, particularly between capital cities and other urban centers in the central and western regions, emerges as a limiting factor for regional progress. Significantly, the study highlights the positive influence of population concentration on the economic growth of the YREB. In light of these findings, the study proposes policy recommendations addressing population concentration and regional innovation.