Abstract
Quantitatively evaluating the spatial characteristics of regional e-retailing economy linkages is of great significance for clarifying the spatial organization of regional e-retailing economies, and promoting regional coordinated development. However, due to the lack of study data, it is difficult toconduct quantitative research on these regional e-retailing economic linkages. Taking advantage of emerging new data sources, the depth and breadth of related research cannow be improved. This paper considers 64 county-level economic areas in Zhejiang Province as network nodes.A revised gravity model was used to measure the intensity of the e-retailing economic linkage in 2016,based upon the e-retailing data provided by the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, China. On this basis, the geographic information system (GIS) tool, a model-potential method and a social network, were used to analyze the spatial features of the e-retail economic linkages at the countylevel in Zhejiang Province. The results showed that the spatial polarization of the economic linkage pattern emerged as prominent, with the overall difference and east-west gradient difference between counties proving significant. In addition, the major linking partners of most regions were relatively singular, and a problem of vulnerability in e-retail economic development was shown.Secondly, the southwest region of Zhejiang Province was an important obstacle in the integration process of regional e-retail economy, through analyzing the connection scope of e-retailing economics. Thirdly, the central Zhejiang subgroupwas a key plate connecting east and west, which plays an importantlinking role in the development of regional equalizationwhen we analyzethe cohesive subgroup pattern. Inspired by this, we hypothesized that a microscopic analysis results of Zhejiang Province could provide some enlightenment for the balanced and integrated development of China’s regional e-retailing economy.
Highlights
In recent years, e-retail has grown immensely in most parts of the world
Taking into account the non-equivalence of the economic linkage intensity between two regions in reality, in this study the constant kij was modified through the contribution rate of the e-retail economy, i.e., kij stands for the contribution rate of region i to the combination of region i and region j.In particular, the linkages calculated by the gravity model are not real economic links, but are potential links simulated by the gravity model
Based on the space interaction theory and growth pole theory, this paper uses a revised gravity model and social network analysis to quantitatively study the spatial characteristics of the e-retail economic linkages at county level in Zhejiang Province according to the “point-line-surface” idea
Summary
E-retail has grown immensely in most parts of the world. The e-retail industry is becoming an important industry that affects social and economic development. This study attempts to introduce the social network analysis method in order to conduct a detailed analysis of the spatial linkage characteristics of the regional e-retailing economy, so as to reveal the spatial organization of the regional e-retailing economy, and to clarify the spatial development direction of regional and urban entities. Research on the spatial linkage characteristics of the regional e-retailing economy, at the macro level especially, has not received much attention. The study uses the GIS tool and the potential method, as well as social network analysis, so as to clarify the spatial organization of the regional e-retailing economy and to provide a scientific reference for the development of regional integration.
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