S1 Dataset -

Innovation is the source of economic growth. Innovation in a region comes from its own knowledge creation and knowledge spillovers from other regions. Previous studies showed that R&D factors flow benefits knowledge spillover, thereby promoting economic growth. But these studies ignored the impact of a region’s knowledge-absorptive capacity on knowledge spillovers. Ignoring the impact of regional absorptive capacity means that the knowledge spillover from the same R&D factors flow is the same, clearly inconsistent with reality. This thesis analyzes the impact of R&D factors flow on economic growth and explores the moderating effect of regional absorptive capacity on the relationship between R&D factors flow and economic growth from theoretical and empirical perspectives. First, we construct a knowledge creation and diffusion model of the new economic geography, including regional absorptive capacity, and analyze the theoretical logic of the flow of R&D factors and regional absorptive capacity influencing economic growth. Second, we employ spatial econometric models to examine the impact of R&D factors flow and regional absorptive capacity on economic growth, utilizing panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2021. The results demonstrated a spatial positive correlation between regional economic growth in China. The R&D factors flow could have significantly promoted not just a region’s direct economic growth, but also the economic growth of surrounding regions via spatial spillover effects. Furthermore, the stronger the regional absorptive capacity, the greater the direct effects and spatial spillover effects of the R&D factors flow on economic growth. The novelty of this article is to introduce regional absorptive capacity into the theoretical model, refine the methodology for assessing regional absorptive capacity in empirical research, and examine its moderating effect between the inflow of R&D factors and regional economic growth. This article reveals that the positive impact of the inflow of R&D factors on spatial spillovers and economic growth varies depending on regional absorptive capacity. According to the conclusions above, enhancing regional absorptive capacity is equally important as facilitating the flow of R&D factors. Therefore, it is vital for a region to strengthen its absorptive capacity for new knowledge while promoting R&D factors flow. The study provides valuable policy insights for accelerating the flow of innovation factors, enhancing regional absorptive capacity, and consequently promoting long-term sustainable economic development in the region.

创新是经济增长的核心源泉。某一区域的创新活动，既源于自身的知识创造，也得益于其他区域的知识溢出。已有研究指出，研发（R&D）要素流动能够助力知识溢出，进而推动经济增长。但此类研究未考虑区域知识吸收能力（regional absorptive capacity）对知识溢出的影响。若忽视区域吸收能力的作用，则会默认同一研发要素流动所带来的知识溢出效应完全一致，这显然与现实情况相悖。本研究从理论与实证双重视角出发，剖析研发要素流动对经济增长的影响，并探究区域吸收能力在研发要素流动与经济增长的关联中所发挥的调节效应。其一，本文构建纳入区域吸收能力的新经济地理学知识创造与扩散模型，梳理研发要素流动与区域吸收能力作用于经济增长的理论逻辑；其二，本文采用中国2008至2021年30个省份的面板数据，运用空间计量模型检验研发要素流动与区域吸收能力对经济增长的影响效应。研究结果表明，中国区域经济增长存在显著的空间正相关特征。研发要素流动不仅能够显著提升本地区的直接经济增长水平，还可通过空间溢出效应带动周边区域的经济增长。进一步分析显示，区域吸收能力越强，研发要素流动对经济增长的直接效应与空间溢出效应就越突出。本文的创新贡献在于：将区域吸收能力纳入理论分析框架，优化了实证研究中区域吸收能力的评估方法，并检验了其在研发要素流入与区域经济增长关系中的调节效应。本文揭示，研发要素流入对空间溢出与经济增长的正向影响，会因区域吸收能力的差异而呈现异质性特征。基于上述研究结论，提升区域吸收能力与推动研发要素流动具有同等重要的战略意义。因此，各区域在促进研发要素流动的同时，亟需强化自身对新知识的吸收转化能力。本研究可为加快创新要素流动、提升区域吸收能力，进而推动区域经济长期可持续发展提供兼具指导性与实践性的政策启示。