Uncovering the influence of land finance dependency on inter-city regional integration: An explanatory framework integrating time-nonlinear and spatial factors

• Published in: Land use policy 2024-09, Vol.144, p.107207, Article 107207
• Main Authors: Chen, Danling, Li, Yuying, Hu, Wenbo, Lang, Yan, Zhang, Yunlei, Cheng, Chen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Inverted U-shaped effect; Land finance dependency; Regional integration; Spatial durbin model; Yangtze River Economic Belt
• ISSN: 0264-8377
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107207

Land finance plays a pivotal role and occupies an irreplaceable position in facilitating the rapid regional integration of China. This study introduced an explanatory framework that integrates both time-nonlinear and spatial factors to comprehensively investigate the impact of land finance dependency on regional integration. Furthermore, this paper employed the data between 2003 and 2017 from 108 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and utilized a spatial Durbin model to assess these effects. In terms of temporal dimension, this research uncovered an inverted U-shaped relationship between land finance dependency and regional integration. In 2017, 51 out of the 108 cities analyzed had not yet reached the optimal threshold of land finance dependency for peak regional integration. Additionally, inverted U-shaped patterns in the effects of two modes of land finance dependency on regional integration can be observed. The land transfer-centered mode demonstrated a significant impact, whereas the land investment-centered mode did not. Moreover, regional heterogeneity was evident in our analysis. The spatial effects of land finance dependency on regional integration were most pronounced in the lower reaches area, while they remained insignificant in the middle reaches area. In contrast, the influence of land finance dependency on regional integration remained positive but exhibited a marginal decline in the upper reaches area. This study delves deeply into land finance dependency from the perspective of regional integration, offering valuable insights for urban governance in the future. •The effects of land finance dependency on regional integration are investigated under a spatio-temporal framework.•Heterogeneity in the time-nonlinear and spillover effects of land finance dependency on regional integration is identified.•Land finance dependency has an inverted U-shaped effect on regional integration.•Most cities are away from the regional integration-maximizing land finance scale.