Abstract Based on the panel data of 260 prefecture-level and above cities in 30 regions of China during the period from 2000 to 2016,this paper uses the three-input DEA-Malmquist index method to measure and analyze the growth rate of urban total factor productivity in China. Further,the paper makes use of DEA-Tobit model to empirically analyze the effect of the national High-tech Zones on the growth rate of total factor productivity in cities under the framework of Quasi-experiment and Difference-in-differences. The empirical results show that the establishment of National High-tech Zone has significantly contributed to the growth of total factor productivity in cities,but has heterogeneity.The contribution of the National High-Tech Zones to urban TFP growth is in the order of western,central,and eastern regions in China by regions.The effect of the establishments of National High-tech Zones on TFP growth in cities with high administrative levels was more significant than that of cities with low administrative levels.The establishment of a National High-tech Zone in a city with a population between 5 millions and 10 millions has a more pronounced effect on the growth of urban TFP.
LI Jian,FENG Shan,DAI Yunhao. National High-tech Zones and Total Factor Productivity Growth of Cities in China——Based on the Empirical Analysis of Difference-in-Differences Method. Economic Survey, 2020, 37(1): 09.
2020, Vol. 37 
