How does high-speed rail reshape the spatial distribution of service activities? Evidence from the firm data in China

This paper examines the impact of China's high-speed rail (HSR) network on the spatial distribution of producer and consumer service firms. Using a difference-in-differences approach on data from 2004 to 2020, we find that HSR increases the density of producer service firms in urban districts and core cities, while reducing the density of consumer service firms in these regions but increasing it in peripheral areas. The effects are stronger in areas with HSR hubs and longer service durations. Our findings suggest that HSR drives the specialization of service sectors within city clusters, leading to distinct patterns of urban development. These insights offer important policy implications for regional economic integration and intercity industrial synergy and division in China.