Influence of “the Belt & Road Initiative” on regional logistics development in China based on DID model

Abstract

As a booster of the national economy and a catalyst of industrial development, the logistics industry uniquely maintains stable economic operations and promotes industrial structural adjustment. The development of China’s logistics industry has broadened the international market and accelerated the exchange and cooperation of logistics industries between different countries. The “Belt & Road Initiative” will continue to provide impetus for the development of China’s logistics industry, which can guarantee the infrastructure interconnection of the logistics industry and ensure the fundamental implementation of the initiative. Based on theoretical analysis and the panel data of 30 provinces in China during 2005–2020, whether the “Belt & Road Initiative” had obvious policy effects on regional logistics development in China was analyzed. The empirical research results showed that the “Belt & Road Initiative” could accelerate the high-quality development of the logistics industry in the provinces along the route during the research period. Industrial proportion, per capita GDP, import and export amount of goods, investment in fixed assets of the whole society, and science and technology input positively affected the development of regional logistics industries. The regression coefficient of the energy structure in the logistics industry was negative but not significant. The research results have important decision-making reference values in promoting the regional advantages of modern logistics industries, promoting the convenience of logistics trade, improving the scientific and technological level of the logistics industry, and using other exogenous policy variables to boost the high-quality development of modern logistics industries under the background of the “Belt & Road Initiative”.