Cross-Regional Allocation of Human Capital and Sustainable Development of China’s Regional Economy—Based on the Perspective of Population Mobility

Abstract

Using the panel data of cities at the prefecture level and above in China, based on the endogenous growth theory, this study aims to explore the influence of the cross-regional allocation of human capital on regional economic sustainable development. Least squares estimation and stepwise regression methods were adopted for an empirical test, and the results showed that (1) the cross-regional allocation of human capital can significantly promote regional economic sustainable development; (2) labor productivity, industrial structure, and regional innovation capacity play mediating roles in the relationship between the cross-regional allocation of human capital and regional economic sustainable development; (3) household registration policy plays a negative moderating role in the influence of cross-regional allocation of human capital on regional economic sustainable development; (4) after considering the potential endogenous problems and conducting additional robustness analysis, including changing the independent variable and changing the dependent variable, our main results remain robust and reliable. With the development of the economy, the cross-regional allocation of human capital plays an important role in regional economic sustainable development. Thus, in order to improve regional economic sustainable development, it is imperative for governments to promote a reform of the household registration system, to guide the rational mobility of population, and to optimize the regional allocation of human capital.