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Regional Science & Technology and Innovation

Research on the Heterogeneity of Technological Innovation in Pro⁃ moting Economic Growth 

—Empirical Analysis Based on the Pearl River Delta and Peripheral  Regions in Guangdong 

Wang Jiayi1 , Lv Lachang1, 2 

(1.College of Resource Environment and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; 2.Beijing Research Center for Urban Innovation and Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China)

Abstract: In Guangdong Province, a pronounced "center-periphery" differentiation exists be⁃ tween technological innovation and economic development, giving rise to a "multi-speed"  growth dilemma across the region. Panel data from 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong from  2012 to 2021 were employed. Three dimensions—innovation inputs, innovation outputs, and in⁃ novation environment—were integrated to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system  for technological innovation capability. The global entropy method was then applied to quantify  each city's innovation capability. Next, the natural breaks classification method in ArcGIS was  used to examine the spatial-temporal distribution of innovation capability and economic develop⁃ ment levels, thereby revealing their evolution and regional disparities. Finally, a dynamic spatial  Durbin model was employed to assess the spatial effects of innovation on economic growth in  both the short and long term, with particular attention to inter-regional heterogeneity. The analy⁃ sis yields four main findings: ①Innovation capability and economic development levels display a  clear agglomeration pattern centered on the Pearl River Delta, indicating strong spatial cluster⁃ ing and pronounced imbalance. ②A significant positive spatial correlation and spatial heteroge⁃ neity exist between innovation capability and economic development across Guangdong's cities. ③In the Pearl River Delta, innovation exerts a prominent short-term positive effect, primarily by  driving local and neighboring economic growth via technology spillovers. ④ In Northern and  Eastern Guangdong, both short-term and long-term indirect effects of innovation are insignifi⁃ cant. Northern Guangdong even exhibits a short-term negative direct effect and an insignificant  long-term impact, suggesting that innovation has not effectively promoted growth there. In con⁃ trast, in Eastern Guangdong, technological innovation contributes positively to local economic  growth in both the short and long term. Although the direct impact of technological innovation in  Western Guangdong is not significant, the region effectively leverages external technological  progress to promote short- term economic growth through interactions with more developed areas  and infrastructure support. Based on these empirical findings, the study further incorporates Ros⁃ tow's stages of economic growth theory to interpret and classify the development stages of differ⁃ ent regions in Guangdong. The Pearl River Delta is judged to have transitioned from the "takeoff" to the "maturity" stage. Northern Guangdong remains in the "preconditions for take-off"  stage. Eastern and Western Guangdong are in the crucial phase of transitioning from the "precon⁃ ditions for take-off" to the "take-off" stage. 

Key words: Pearl River Delta; technological innovation; economic growth; regional differ⁃ ences; heterogeneity