The study on variation of influential regions in China from a perspective of asymmetry economic information flow

• Asymmetric economic flows between Chinese regions are measured.
• Symbolic transfer entropy method and annual GDP are used to calculate the economic flows.
• Directed and weighted networks are constructed before and after the reform and opening up policy.

Based on the annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 27 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions, the asymmetric economic information flows between different regions are calculated by the symbolic transfer entropy method and corresponding economic information flow networks are built over two periods, one is before the reform and opening up policy, the other is after that. By analyzing such networks, the obtained results are as follows. First, before the policy, balanced development strategy weakens or cuts off the ties between adjacent areas, resulting in a slow regional economic development, does not conform to the law of scientific development. Second, with introducing market mechanisms and promoting the reform and opening up policy, increasing economic activities have gradually shifted from coast to inland of China over Period II. Last but not least, there has a dramatic alternation of the influential centers that Jilin, Beijing and Jiangsu become new influential centers. Especially, at Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei metropolis circle Beijing becomes an influential center after the policy.