The rational distribution of circulation node cities and the construction of efficient and coordinated urban circulation networks are vital in promoting coordinated regional development in China.The study employs panel data for 287 prefecture-level cities from 2009 to 2020 and uses the"National circulation node city layout planning"promulgated in 2015 as a natural experiment to empirically test the impact of urban circulation network construction on regional coordinated development using the difference-in-differences method.The results show that the distribution policy of circulation node cities can significantly improve the level of coordinated regional development,and the policy effect of national circulation node cities is dominant.The mechanism test shows that layout policy can indirectly promote regional coordinated development by weakening commodity trade barriers,improving logistics efficiency,accelerating the free flow of factors,and deepening the domestic division of labor.Further analysis shows that the positive impact of layout policy on regional coordinated development is more obvious in the eastern,non-resource-based,good business environment and balanced inter-provincial trade structure cities.The digital basic conditions can positively impact the effect of circulation node city policy.With improved regional coordinated development,the marginal policy effect of the circulation node city layout will continue to increase.The conclusions of this study can extend our understanding of modern circulation-system construction in terms of territorial spatial governance and serve as a reference point for policy to bridge regional economic gaps and promote high-quality development.
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