Level Of Regional Integration Research Articles

The spatial spillover effects of regional integration on carbon emissions

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region serves as the leading economic force of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) in China. It is crucial for the region to take a leadership role in regional integration to facilitate carbon emission reduction. This paper employs a spatial econometric model to examine the impact, spatial spillover effect, and mechanisms of regional integration on carbon emissions in the Yangtze River Delta, using data from 41 cities in the region from 2008 to 2019. The results indicate that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the level of regional integration and carbon emissions, with emissions initially increasing before decreasing. Additionally, the impact of regional integration on carbon emissions exhibits a positive spatial spillover effect and threshold characteristics, with carbon emissions inhibited and a positive spatial spillover observed once the threshold is exceeded. Moreover, regional integration reduces carbon emissions through the upgrading of industrial structures and the innovation of green technology. Implications for carbon emission reduction include: actively integrating into the Yangtze River Delta regional integration development; strengthening cross-regional carbon emission synergistic governance; and promoting carbon emission reduction through mechanisms such as promoting industrial upgrading and low-carbonization development, as well as incentivizing technological innovation.

Tax competition, spatial correlation and regional integration development——Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta

Integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) is an important national strategy to drive China's high-quality development. First, we discuss the influence mechanism of tax competition (TC) between local governments on regional integration (RI) and its subsystems. Second, the spatial integration technology was assessed the development level and spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of RI and TC levels in the YRD from 2009 to 2019. Finally, a spatial econometric model is constructed to explore the effect of spatial. The results show the following: (1) From the perspective of the theoretical mechanism, a benign TC promotes the development of RI, but an excessive TC will lead to local governments weakening their service functions. (2) From the perspective of development status, the level of RI in the YRD shows a gradual increasing trend. Spatially, the RI shows a fan-shaped radiative distribution, while the TC shows a staggered agglomeration distribution. (3) The spatial impact of TC on the overall RI and its subsystems is negative, but the spatial impact on the public service subsystem is positive. And node cities have driving effects, while other cities have certain inhibitory effects; The impact of TC on RI varies depending on the economic density of cities.

How Regional Integration Affects Urban Green Development Efficiency: Evidence from Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River.

Unlocking the relationship between regional integration and urban green development efficiency (UGDE) is of great importance for boosting regional high-quality development and promoting sustainable urban development patterns. Although studies have analyzed the spatio-temporal evolution and influencing factors of regional integration and UGDE, the impact of regional integration on UGDE remains untested. In this paper, we construct a conceptual framework to analyze how regional integration can influence UGDE through promoting the factors mobility and optimizing the industrial layout. In addition, we further choose the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR), a rapidly growing urban agglomeration in central China, as a case to investigate the spatial spillover effect of regional integration on UGDE from 2003 to 2017. We quantify the UGDE with a random forest model, then estimate the underlying determinants of the UGDE with a spatial Durbin model. Results indicated that (1) the regional integration level and the UGDE index of the UAMRYR and its three sub-urban agglomerations show an increasing trend; (2) for every 1% increase in the level of regional integration, the level of UGDE will increase by 0.8307%; (3) the impact of regional integration on UGDE has obvious regional heterogeneity; while playing a promoting effect in the Wuhan urban agglomeration and the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration, it shows an inhibitory effect in the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration. We conclude that regional integration in agglomeration areas can accelerate the factors flow and optimize the industrial layout for improving UGDE.

Regional trade and expansion planning (RTEP) model: Model for regional power sector integration in Africa

Regional power pools present a significant and potentially defining opportunity for African power systems to develop domestic energy resources, improve system reliability, and contribute to overall economic development. Hydropower is expected to play a significant role in many regional power pools in Africa. Feasible power transmission highways from Grand Inga in Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Grand Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia to other regions on the continent create the possibility of a pan-African electricity grid. However, in the medium and long-term, global climate change is expected to cause major variations in Africa's hydrological resources and it is not known how these changes may impact the value of regional power sector integration. This paper presents a model developed to study the value of different levels of regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa and how this value may change in the face of climate change. This work builds on previous studies by incorporating the ability to trade between different regional pools, co-optimization of generation and transmission, the ability to share reserves, and detailed simulation of the major hydro basins in Africa. Numerical results of the analysis will be presented in a parallel paper.

Unlocking the Relationship between Land Finance and Regional Integration

Exploring the relationship between land finance and regional integration is of great significance for optimizing the land management system and promoting high-quality development. Previous studies focused on the impact of land finance on regional development, and rarely concerned the role of regional integration on land revenue. This study reveals the internal association mechanisms between land finance and regional integration, which might provide an integrated theoretical and empirical support for the coordinated development between urban land market and regional economy. We firstly provide a theoretically analytical framework for the relationship between the size of land finance, reliance on land finance, and regional integration, and three hypotheses are proposed. On this basis, an econometric analysis is conducted based on the panel data of the urban agglomerations in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) from 2003 to 2016. The results show that an increased amount of land finance revenue promotes the level of regional integration. Specifically, for every 1% increase in the size of land finance of UAMRYR, Wuhan city-clusters, and Chang-Zhu-Tan city-clusters, the level of regional integration will increase by 0.000040%, 0.000021%, and 0.000089%, respectively. Besides, the degree of land finance dependence has a negative impact on the level of regional integration. The threshold regression analysis indicates an inverted U–shaped curve could reflect the relationship between the level of regional integration and the degree of land financial dependence. This study argues that the governments in a particular urban agglomeration should clarify the net effect of the size of land finance and their reliance on land finance, and rationally introducing development strategy according to the synergy between land finance and regional integration.

Exploration on road maintenance of new infrastructure enabling intelligent expressway

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, “new infrastructure” was written into the “Outline for the Construction of a Transport Power”, and the Ministry of Communications made it clear that intelligent maintenance was the focus of technological innovation. Taking Hangzhou-Shaozhou-Ningbo Expressway as an example, this paper discusses the contents of expressway road maintenance based on new infrastructure construction, and finds the following prominent problems: lack of unified industry standards; there are disadvantages in software assurance; insufficient interaction of elements; the level of regional integration is not high. By establishing the theoretical model of “MADD” and innovating the maintenance mobile terminal platform, the corresponding solutions and strategies are further proposed: strengthening the top-level design and establishing a unified standard; strengthen software matching and promote overall collaboration; strengthen the integration of construction and use, promote the interaction of elements; we will strengthen communication mechanisms and promote regional coordination. The result shows that the road maintenance of new infrastructure enabled expressway is of great significance. The research of this paper has certain reference significance for the further development of highway maintenance and construction in Zhejiang Province in the future.

Institutions and mechanism of regional integration in the South Central Coast

The regional integration is a relatively complex social phenomenon that requires a variety of theoretical frameworks/approaches. The paper proposes and analyzes the framework for assessing the role and level of regional integration in economic development in the South Central Coast. The results of the study show that the level of regional integration is not tight and of mere formality as the cost of regional integration is higher than the benefits and the institution of regional coordination has not been effective. These result in the fact that the role of regional integration in promoting economic spillovers and enhancing competitiveness . is not commensurate with expectations. Through the analysis, the paper proposes some guidelines to enhance the role and increase the level of regional connectivity in the South Central Coast in the future.

Constructing the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation and Integration Index: A Panel Approach

In this paper, we propose a panel approach in the construction of the Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation and Integration Index (ARCII) to strengthen the index’s ability to track the progress of economic integration in the region over time. Panel-based procedures are employed in imputing missing values, normalizing raw data, and deriving dimensional and subdimensional weights via principal components analysis. Findings suggest the pace of integration in Asia was broadly steady over the 11-year sample period (2006–2016). However, modest gains have been made as a majority of economies in the sample have moved up in their levels of regional integration from 2006 to 2016. Of the six dimensions featured in the ARCII, trade and investment and movement of people are the main drivers of regional integration, while the money and finance dimension was the weakest link. Based on global normalization, Asia comes second to the European Union (EU) in progress on regional integration, but in recent years a few Asian economies have broken through to the top tier dominated by the EU economies.

Regional knowledge economies and global innovation networks – the case of Southeast Asia

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the prospects of a Southeast Asian knowledge economy in light of regional integration processes and the participation of Southeast Asia in global innovation networks.Design/methodology/approachThe evidence base is a combination of quantitative data on R&D investments, patent applications and publications, with qualitative data from 40 semi-structured expert interviews conducted with innovation experts, research managers and policymakers in six ASEAN Member States.FindingsDespite economic growth and increases in R&D inputs and outputs in individual ASEAN Member States, innovation policy at regional ASEAN level remains weak. In addition, the economic integration of the ASEAN Economic Community is progressing slowly. In this environment, evidence is presented for a certain level of regional integration when it comes to the exploitation of knowledge produced within and outside of ASEAN. While a regional market for knowledge exploitation is conceivable, this is not accompanied by the regional integration of knowledge production.Practical implicationsThe main practical implication of this argument is the need for ASEAN policymakers to appreciate the disconnection between regional knowledge production and exploitation. This paper offers conceptual tools to engage in ASEAN-level policy discussions on this issue that can help facilitate the best possible regional outcome.Originality/valueDespite several studies on the ASEAN Economic Community process, there has been no contribution so far that combines a discussion of the economic integration process with a look at the regional knowledge economy and innovation systems. This perspective does not only contribute to innovation systems literature, but also entails important policy lessons.

Multi-indicator Evaluation and Analysis of Coordinated Industrial Development of Urban Agglomerations

The level of coordinated industrial development in a region is considered as an important factor of measuring the construction of urban agglomerations. As the economic development patterns and stages vary in regions, a single-standard evaluation system is generally insufficient in evaluating and analyzing the coordinated industrial development of urban agglomerations. This paper, with multivariate values and diversified development demands considered, quantitatively describes the industrial development of urban agglomerations from four dimensions: economics, specialization, balance, and friendliness. On this basis, it synthesizes the indicator parameters effectively and proposes a multi-indicator evaluation model. Through the model, the paper comparatively analyzes the present status and development course of coordinated industrial development of typical urban agglomerations (Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, and the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration) in China. The results show that Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration has the clearest division of industries, but its industrial spillover effect is limited, the industrial structure of small and medium cities is too simple, and the economic gap among cities narrows at a very slow rate. The core cities in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration exert certain driving effect upon the economy of their surrounding areas. However, they hardly give full play to their comparative advantages due to a low level of regional integration and high industrial similarity among cities. Compared with the above two urban agglomerations, the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration enjoys more reasonable division of industries among cities, significant driving effect of core cities, and higher level of coordinated industrial development as driven by the market economy.

TRADE IN SOUTH ASIA IN THE NAME OF SUB-REGIONAL TRADE CORRIDOR

The development of the corridor for the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (sub-regional) Motor Vehicle Agreement is rooted in the formation of the South Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ), a collective organization established by the four South Asian nations. To meet its goal, SAGQ was tasked with improving cross-border connectivity, boosting trade among member countries, and strengthening sub-regional economic integration. The strategic location of North East India implies that the sub-regional corridor will significantly impact the development of the region. over the past 20 years, despite dedicated programs and attempts from multiple stakeholders within the SAGQ to promote development within sub-regional, not enough has happened to facilitate regional trade, transport, and the movement of goods and people across the region. Consider the existing state of affairs: intraregional trade among South Asian countries accounted for only 5 percent of their trade in 2015. This low level of regional integration in South Asia is manifested in poor intraregional investment. Higher levels of integration to ensure smooth access to regional and international markets is even more important for smaller, less developed, and landlocked nations such as Nepal and Bhutan.

Time‐Varying World and Regional Integration in Emerging European Equity Markets

AbstractThis study investigates time‐varying world and regional integration in emerging European markets. Categorising global and regional effects into return and volatility spillovers, we also examine the impact of time variation in these spillover effects based on the conditions of economic growth. Our results show that growth and currency depreciation can predict the degree of integration and spillover effects for these markets. The impact of growth on the level of regional integration is greater in countries with floating exchange rate regimes than in those with exchange controls. The world effect on European returns is stronger when the developed European region is in a recession. However, regional effects on the volatility of emerging European markets are greater during faster growth or weaker than expected economic growth.

Political participation, regional policy and the location of industry

This paper analyzes the location of manufacturing activities when regional policy is determined by each region's relative propensity to vote. The level of subsidies distributed to a region and the location of manufacturing activities are increasing in the region's relative political participation rate. The standard prediction in the economic geography literature, that the larger region becomes the core when trade barriers are reduced, no longer holds. The establishment of manufacturing production in the economically smaller region is increasing in the level of regional integration. As trade is increasingly liberalized, the economy features a reversed core–periphery equilibrium. Empirical evidence shows that the model is consistent with qualitative features of the data, and the results are robust to an instrumental variable strategy that accounts for the potential endogeneity of voter turnout.

Intermediate products and the regionalization of trade

PurposeThis paper aims to exploit a new trade database to explore the extent to which trade, and the industrial division of labor which it represents, is regional in nature.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis focuses especially on intermediates trade, in three key regions – the EU, NAFTA and ASEAN+3 – which together represent 78 percent of global trade.FindingsThe results indicate that levels of regional integration in trade and changes in that integration vary by region and by direction of flow. Notably, the EU has higher levels of intra‐regional trade than the other two. These results vary by technology, with high‐tech trade less regionally biased than others.Originality/valueTrade data has been little used in the debate on the regionalization of business activity. In addition, the paper highlights trends, not just in total trade, but within intermediate products and by technology.

Location equilibrium with endogenous rent seeking

This thesis consists of three essays in the fields of the political economy of international trade.Location Equilibrium with Endogenous Rent Seeking:This paper analyzes the location of manufacturing activities when regional policy is determined by endogenous rent seeking. Once lobbying for government transfers to regions is included in an economic geography framework with size asymmetries, the standard prediction that the larger region becomes the core when trade barriers are reduced no longer holds. The establishment of manufacturing production in the economically smaller region is increasing in the level of regional integration once trade becomes freer than a certain threshold value. When free trade prevails, the relocation of industry takes place up to the point where there are as many firms operating in the South as in the North. Furthermore, lobbying slows down the agglomeration process, whereas the home market magnification effect (Baldwin, 2000) becomes weaker.Endogenous Tariff Formation and the Political Economy of Trade Retaliation:This paper extends the notion of endogenous tariff formation under representative democracy by allowing for strategic interaction between governments. The model developed suggests that the ideological distribution in the electorate within a country affects the tariff setting behavior among its trading partners. The equilibrium tariffs in a country depend on the trade policy preferences of the ideologically neutral voters among such partners as well as on the distribution of their sector-specific factor ownership. Ideological shifts in the population which systematically alter the political power of different voter groups, or types of factor owners, in one country thus influence the tariff setting behavior in competing trading nations.On the Indeterminacy of Trade Policy under Different Electoral Rules:Current research has found ambiguous results with respect to the effects of the type of electoral regime on trade policy. The present paper proposes a solution to this indeterminacy. It is shown that the equilibrium level of trade protection can be relatively higher, as well as lower, under a majoritarian electoral rule compared to proportional representation. The framework developed in this paper thus includes as special cases earlier models reported in the literature. The equilibrium outcome is shown to depend on the number of voters in swing districts who own a factor specific to the exporting industry in relation to those who possess claims to the specific input employed by the import-competing sector. Using a cross section of countries, empirical evidence is consistent with this hypothesis.

Understanding regional peace and security: a framework for analysis1

The aim of this article is to build an analytical framework for understanding regional peace and security. Building on important insights from other theoretical approaches, it proposes that in order to comprehend the complexities of each regional cluster we have to account for: (a) agents of peace and security, (b) instruments of peace and security, (c) the security pattern, (d) the conflict pattern, (e) the positive peace pattern, and (f) the level of regional integration. Secondly, the article examines how these different components relate to each another. It introduces the concept of the ‘regional peace and security cluster’ (RPSC) and proposes that RPSCs can be classified as ‘regional fragmentations’, ‘regional coalitions’, ‘regional communities’ and ‘regional governmental polities’.

El Golfo de México en la centuria decimonónica: Entornos geográficos, formación portuaria y configuración marítima

El Golfo de México en la centuria decimonónica: Entornos geográficos, formación portuaria y configuración marítima

Regional integration and the individualism/collectivism dichotomy

This paper explores how regional integration can be seen through the lens of the individualism/collectivism dichotomy. Two main worldviews dominate the world since the 18-century: individualism and collectivism. These worldviews not only shape the behaviour of individuals but also that of institutional actors such as states. At the level of states, these two worldviews have been reflected in states pursuing their national interests and in states seeking to cooperate with other states. Also, within single states, these two worldviews find their expression in conceptions about how social order and public life are organised: the welfare state versus a market oriented society. As such, regional integration is a process that has a double relation to the individualism/collectivism dichotomy. First, the level of regional integration that states will pursue is linked to (individual) national interests. Secondly, regional integration as a move towards unity is function of the existing degree of homogeneity in social welfare systems. Today, a major challenge for the world is the dual evolution of growing individualism on the one hand (with limits to solidarity) and of a growing area of problems that have to be tackled at a collective level (cf. globalisation). This paper will argue that regional integration can be a valuable answer to overcome the individualism/collectivism dichotomy at the level of states. But for this to happen, civil society needs to become much more involved in regional integration processes.

Asia's new regionalism: government capacity and cooperation in the Western Pacific

Since 1997, cooperation initiatives involving Asian countries have become more visible and ambitious. These initiatives reflect incentives for regional cooperation in Asia that are the product of prior levels of regional integration and international developments. While many countries in the region stand to gain from more substantive cooperation, they are likely to find certain cooperative goals difficult to achieve. This difficulty cannot be ascribed to the commonly cited obstacles to cooperation in Asia: economic diversity, inter-state political rivalry and the influence exercised by the US. Rather, parts of the new regional agenda are complicated by the kind of government organizations that exist in some countries. Government organizations that lack domestic regulatory capacity are poorly equipped to participate in some regional initiatives.

Structural Conditions and the Propensity for Regional Integration

This paper proposes a theory for regional integration based on structural conditions. By applying power transition theory, we are able to account for and anticipate not only the tendency for pairs of countries to participate in integration, but the likely intensity of such integration as well. We find that integration is most likely when there is an asymmetric distribution of power between countries and when they are jointly satisfied after a power transition has occurred. These results hold even after controlling for level of development and trade flows. We test this theory on all politically relevant dyads between 1950 and 1996 using a novel method to measure the level of regional integration. We illustrate the empirical findings through simulations that track the developments leading to Europe's Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).