The resource redistribution effect of high-speed rail stations on the economic growth of neighbouring regions: Evidence from China

The role of high-speed rails (HSRs) in urban development remains a much-debated topic, especially with regard to their impacts on surrounding counties without HSR stations. In this study, we construct a theoretical model explaining the relationship between the opening of HSR stations and counties' economic growth. We investigate the effects of HSR stations on county development in China, applying the propensity score-matching difference-in-difference method to county-level panel data for China from 2006 to 2014, and we examine whether and under what conditions a resource redistribution effect occurs. The findings are as follows. (1) HSR construction is conducive to the economic growth of the site area, with a promotion effect of 14%. (2) The primary source of this promotion effect is a resource redistribution effect in areas located within 30-110 km (26 min) from the station. This attractive radius significantly differs between coastal and inland areas, with the effect being greater in inland regions than in coastal regions. (3) This difference can be attributed to the heterogeneity of the surrounding counties; the larger the market size of the surrounding counties, the smaller the resource redistribution effect is, and vice versa.