Study on the Economic Growth Effect of Free Trade Zones——A Dynamic Analysis Based on Double Difference Space Autoregressive Model
ZHANG Jun1, YAN Dong-sheng2, FENG Zong-xian1, LI Cheng1
1.School of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China; 2.Institute of Yangtze River Industrial Economy, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Abstract Using the provincial panel data from 2009 to 2017 and the double difference space autoregressive model, this article studies the economic growth effect of the 11 free trade zones from the perspectives of overall investigation, regional comparison as well as time trend. The results show that: 1) the establishment of the free trade zone has a significant positive effect on the economic growth in general. Compared with the GDP per capita, there is a greater role in promoting the total GDP in terms of the intensity of the effect. At the same time, the establishment of free trade zones has a significant positive spillover effect on the surrounding provinces. 2) From a regional perspective, the positive effect of coastal free trade zones on economic growth is smaller than that of inland free trade zones. 3) From the perspective of time trend, the positive effect of the three batches of free trade zones on economic growth show a “U” trend that first declines and then rises. Based on these conclusions, this paper proposes some targeted countermeasures to better enhance the promotion effect of free trade zone strategy on China’s economic development, such as strengthening the implementation of the strategy, improving the space radiation mechanism, optimizing the spatial pattern, promoting the differentiated development according to local conditions, designing a gradient development path, fully releasing systematic synergy and so on.
ZHANG Jun,YAN Dong-sheng,FENG Zong-xian et al. Study on the Economic Growth Effect of Free Trade Zones——A Dynamic Analysis Based on Double Difference Space Autoregressive Model. Economic Survey, 2019, 36(4): 071.
2019, Vol. 36 
