自贸试验区对县域市场活力的空间溢出效应与机制研究

Abstract

As an important strategic initiative for advancing reform and opening up in the new era, Pilot Free Trade Zones (PFTZs) are expected to better play a leading and demonstrative role in promoting county economic development. Based on geographic distance, this study constructs a difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically examine the spatial spillover effects and mechanisms of Pilot Free Trade Zones on county-level market vitality. The results indicate that Pilot Free Trade Zones significantly enhance county-level market vitality, primarily through policy spillovers, capital spillovers, talent mobility and technological spillovers. This enhancement effect exhibits a non-monotonic pattern, being more pronounced in counties located 0-50 km and 125-175 km away from the Free Trade Zones, while an "agglomeration shadow" exists within the 75-100 km range. Further analyses reveal heterogeneity across geographical locations and industries, the spillover effects are stronger in regions outside the Yangtze River Basin and counties surrounding central cities. Moreover, the positive effects are also significant in services and less technology-intensive sectors. These findings provide important policy implications for further promoting the development of Pilot Free Trade Zones and stimulating county-level market vitality.