Assessing the Impact of Regional Integration Strategies on the Development of Urban Green Economies: A Study Based on an Empirical Analysis of Ten Major Urban Agglomerations

Abstract

Green development represents a critical pathway to achieving high-quality growth. From a regional perspective, examining the impact of regional integration on urban green economic development holds significant importance. This study leverages a quasi-natural experiment of regional integration strategy implementation, utilizing unbalanced panel data from China’s ten major urban agglomerations and non-agglomeration cities from 2003 to 2022. Employing a multi-period difference-in-difference approach, we empirically assess the policy effects of regional integration strategies on urban green economic development. We further analyze the heterogeneity of policy effects in terms of the geographic areas, urban agglomeration scales, and development driving models of the cities under study. Lastly, we use a moderating effect model to explore the mechanisms through which regional integration strategies impact urban green economic development. The research results are helpful for promoting urban green economy development through a regional integration strategy.