Urban Networks in the Yangtze River Delta from the Perspective of Transaction Linkages in Manufacturing Industries: Characteristics, Determinants, and Strategies for Intercity Integration Development

In recent years, manufacturing development has received renewed attention from developing and developed countries alike. As mega-city regions (MCRs) are where manufacturing industries converge, the research on urban networks of MCRs under the dominance of manufacturing transaction linkages is currently insufficient. Based on the buyer–supplier linkages of listed manufacturing firms, this paper investigated the characteristics of the urban network in the Yangtze River Delta region (YRDR) in China using the social network analysis method; explored the determinants of nodal centrality and city dyads of the urban network by the stepwise regression and quadratic assignment procedures, respectively; and proposes a “characteristics-determinants-strategies” technical framework for the analysis and optimization of interurban collaboration in manufacturing transactions within MCRs. The findings were as follows: (1) The characteristics of the urban manufacturing transaction networks differed from those of transaction linkages of advanced producer services (APS) firms, intra-firm organization hierarchies, and innovation cooperation networks; (2) the network and geographical “core-periphery” structure of urban power and the circulation corridor of the urban manufacturing transaction network was formed within the YRDR; (3) cooperation parks, innovation collaboration, high-speed rail (HSR) linkage, and geographical proximity between cities were found to facilitate the formation of urban manufacturing transaction networks, and the similarity of industry structures and driving distance between cities inhibits the network; (4) the number of urban industrial firms, GDP per capita, and city government spending on science and technology contributed to the centrality of a city in urban manufacturing transaction networks, while the urban population in a city had a negative impact. The research provides a complementary perspective to the urban network research of MCRs under the perspective of production factors and product circulation and provides policy and urban planning insights for the synergistic development of interurban manufacturing in MCRs.

[1]  Wengang Wang,et al.  Research on the characteristics and influencing factors of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban network structure from the perspective of listed manufacturing enterprises , 2023, PloS one.

[2]  Chunxia Liu,et al.  Directional and Weighted Urban Network Analysis in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle from the Perspective of New Media Information Flow , 2022, ISPRS Int. J. Geo Inf..

[3]  Zhibin Hu,et al.  Unraveling the dynamic changes of high-speed rail network with urban development: Evidence from China , 2022, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences.

[4]  Yongchun Yang,et al.  Spatial evolution and growth mechanism of urban networks in western China: A multi-scale perspective , 2022, Journal of Geographical Sciences.

[5]  Chengliang Liu,et al.  Comparing China’s urban aviation and innovation networks , 2021, Growth and Change.

[6]  Qianqian Liu,et al.  The Asymmetric Pattern of Population Mobility during the Spring Festival in the Yangtze River Delta Based on Complex Network Analysis: An Empirical Analysis of "Tencent Migration" Big Data , 2021, ISPRS Int. J. Geo Inf..

[7]  B. Derudder,et al.  Using urban networks to gain new insight into old questions: Community, economy, bureaucracy , 2021 .

[8]  Fan Zhang,et al.  The evolutionary mechanism of China's urban network from 1997 to 2015: An analysis of air passenger flows , 2020 .

[9]  S. Choi,et al.  The Effect of a Financial Support on Firm Innovation Collaboration and Output: Does Policy Work on the Diverse Nature of Firm Innovation? , 2020 .

[10]  Y. Ueki,et al.  Spatial structures of manufacturing clusters in Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic , 2020, Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy.

[11]  Weili Zhang,et al.  Spatial patterns and determinant factors of population flow networks in China: Analysis on Tencent Location Big Data , 2020 .

[12]  B. Derudder,et al.  An Analysis of the Determinants of the Multiplex Urban Networks in the Yangtze River Delta , 2020, Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie.

[13]  Lei Wang,et al.  Evolving Characteristics of High-Speed Railway Network Structure in Yangtze River Delta, China: the Perspective of Passenger Flows , 2020 .

[14]  Debin Du,et al.  Regional Integration in the Inter-City Technology Transfer System of the Yangtze River Delta, China , 2019, Sustainability.

[15]  Ji Han,et al.  Spatial Dynamics of Intercity Technology Transfer Networks in China’s Three Urban Agglomerations: A Patent Transaction Perspective , 2019, Sustainability.

[16]  Wei Wu,et al.  International Freight Forwarding Services Network in the Yangtze River Delta, 2005–2015: Patterns and Mechanisms , 2019, Chinese Geographical Science.

[17]  Chengliang Liu,et al.  Interurban Consumption Flows of Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River: A Network Approach , 2019, Sustainability.

[18]  Qinchang Gui,et al.  The geography of intercity technology transfer networks in China , 2019, Regional Studies, Regional Science.

[19]  Ilwon Seo,et al.  The persistence of inter-regional hierarchy in technology transfer networks: An analysis of Chinese patent licensing data , 2018, Growth and Change.

[20]  Allan Watson,et al.  Framing city networks through temporary projects: (Trans)national film production beyond ‘Global Hollywood’ , 2018, Urban Studies.

[21]  Jinping Song,et al.  The Changing Geography of Domestic Financial City Network in China, 1995–2015 , 2018 .

[22]  Yao Cheng,et al.  China's hybrid global city region pathway: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta , 2018, Cities.

[23]  B. Derudder,et al.  Regionalization in the Yangtze River Delta, China, from the perspective of inter-city daily mobility , 2018 .

[24]  Yingcheng Li,et al.  Articulating China’s Science and Technology: Knowledge Collaboration Networks Within and Beyond the Yangtze River Delta Megalopolis in China , 2018, Chinese Geographical Science.

[25]  Seamus Grimes,et al.  The actors and relations in evolving networks: The determinants of inter-regional technology transaction in China , 2017 .

[26]  T. Sigler,et al.  Extending beyond ‘world cities’ in World City Network (WCN) research: Urban positionality and economic linkages through the Australia-based corporate network , 2017 .

[27]  C. Sillig,et al.  Advanced Logistics in Italy: A City Network Analysis , 2017 .

[28]  Wei Chen,et al.  Uncovering Spatial Structures of Regional City Networks from Expressway Traffic Flow Data: A Case Study from Jiangsu Province, China , 2017 .

[29]  Simon X. B. Zhao,et al.  Mapping urban networks through inter-firm service relationships: The case of China , 2017 .

[30]  D. Wójcik,et al.  The rise of venture capital centres in China: A spatial and network analysis , 2016 .

[31]  Hongsong Peng,et al.  Network analysis of tourist flows: a cross-provincial boundary perspective , 2016 .

[32]  M. Kordoš,et al.  Transnational Corporations in the Global World Economic Environment , 2016 .

[33]  Ekaterina Turkina,et al.  Structure and evolution of global cluster networks: evidence from the aerospace industry , 2016 .

[34]  Frank Witlox,et al.  Using Location-Based Social Media to Chart the Patterns of People Moving between Cities: The Case of Weibo-Users in the Yangtze River Delta , 2016 .

[35]  Jan Stentoft,et al.  Manufacturing backshoring: a systematic literature review , 2016 .

[36]  Kathy Pain,et al.  Global networks, cities and economic performance: Observations from an analysis of cities in Europe and the USA , 2016 .

[37]  Tsai Wei-Chen,et al.  Explore the effects of interfirm cooperation and collaboration between supply chain integration and service innovation performance , 2015, 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM).

[38]  Jichuan Sheng,et al.  China’s future investments in environmental protection and control of manufacturing industry: lessons from developed countries , 2015, Natural Hazards.

[39]  S. Van Aelst,et al.  Assessing the Functional Polycentricity of the Mega-City-Region of Central Belgium Based on Advanced Producer Service Transaction Links , 2014 .

[40]  Frank van Oort,et al.  Multiple perspectives on functional coherence: heterogeneity and multiplexity in the Randstad , 2014 .

[41]  Martijn J. Burger,et al.  Polycentricity and the Multiplexity of Urban Networks , 2014 .

[42]  S. Krätke.  How manufacturing industries connect cities across the world: extending research on ‘multiple globalizations’ , 2014 .

[43]  Peter Hall,et al.  The Location and Global Network Structure of Maritime Advanced Producer Services , 2011 .

[44]  Michael Taylor,et al.  Corporate Location, Concentration and Performance: Large Company Headquarters in the Australian Urban System , 2010 .

[45]  Andreas B. Eisingerich,et al.  How can clusters sustain performance? The role of network strength, network openness, and environmental uncertainty , 2010 .

[46]  Jean-Loup Guillaume,et al.  Fast unfolding of communities in large networks , 2008, 0803.0476.

[47]  Carl T. Bergstrom,et al.  Maps of random walks on complex networks reveal community structure , 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[48]  Peter J. Taylor,et al.  Transaction links through cities: ‘decision cities’ and ‘service cities’ in outsourcing by leading Brazilian firms , 2007 .

[49]  G. Gaulier,et al.  China’s Integration in East Asia:Production Sharing, FDI & High-Tech Trade , 2007 .

[50]  Fulong Wu,et al.  Planning the Competitive City-Region: The Emergence of Strategic Development Plan in China , 2007 .

[51]  N. Fold,et al.  Multi-level Modularity vs. Hierarchy: Global Production Networks in Singapore's Electronics Industry , 2007 .

[52]  P. Taylor.  Leading World Cities: Empirical Evaluations of Urban Nodes in Multiple Networks , 2005 .

[53]  E. Meijers.  Polycentric Urban Regions and the Quest for Synergy: Is a Network of Cities More than the Sum of the Parts? , 2005 .

[54]  A. Alderson,et al.  Power and Position in the World City System1 , 2004, American Journal of Sociology.

[55]  B. Derudder,et al.  Hierarchical Tendencies and Regional Patterns in the World City Network: A Global Urban Analysis of 234 Cities , 2003 .

[56]  Nicholas Gane,et al.  A Geography of Global Change: Cities and Services, 2000-20011 , 2003 .

[57]  P. Taylor,et al.  Measurement of the World City Network , 2002 .

[58]  M E J Newman,et al.  Community structure in social and biological networks , 2001, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[59]  R. Cybriwsky.  The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. Saskia Sassen , 1992 .

[60]  L. Hubert,et al.  Quadratic assignment as a general data analysis strategy. , 1976 .

[61]  W. Tobler.  A Computer Movie Simulating Urban Growth in the Detroit Region , 1970 .

[62]  Xinyi Niu,et al.  Delineation of the Shanghai Megacity Region of China from a Commuting Perspective: Study Based on Cell Phone Network Data in the Yangtze River Delta , 2021 .

[63]  Peizhen Jin,et al.  Macroeconomic uncertainty and the spatiotemporal evolution of innovation networks: evidence from China's urban technology supply chain , 2021, J. Enterp. Inf. Manag..

[64]  Jie Huang,et al.  Inter-city connections in China: High-speed train vs. inter-city coach , 2020 .

[65]  Yingcheng Li,et al.  Applicability and prospect of China’s development zone model in Africa , 2017, Chinese Geographical Science.

[66]  I. Royer,et al.  Backshoring of Production Activities in European Manufacturing , 2014 .

[67]  Rck Chan,et al.  Assessing the incentives in regional city-to-city cooperation: a case study of Jiangyin-Jingjiang Industrial Park of Jiangsu Province in the Yangtze River Delta region , 2012 .

[68]  N. Fold,et al.  City networks and commodity chains: identifying global flows and local connections in Ho Chi Minh City , 2010 .

[69]  Xiaolong Luo,et al.  A study on inter-city cooperation in the Yangtze river delta region, China , 2009 .

[70]  Thomas F. Gattiker,et al.  Negotiation, Email, and Internet Reverse Auctions: How Sourcing Mechanisms Deployed by Buyers Affect Suppliers’ Trust , 2007 .

[71]  Zhao Zeng-qi.  Production Industry Chain, Production Matching Radius and Self-development Capability of an Enterprise , 2005 .