Do research universities boost regional economic development? -- Evidence from China

Using a research university’s relocation in 1970 as an exogenous shock, we investigate whether research universities are important for regional economic development in China. We analyze the development in the treated regions compared with a set of control regions that are created using the synthetic control method. We find the research university does not facilitate local economic development in the short run. More importantly, in the long run, the impact of a research university on the development of the local economy may even turn negative. Placebo test is conducted to show the robustness of our results.

本研究以1970年某研究型大学的搬迁作为外生冲击（exogenous shock），考察中国研究型大学对区域经济发展的重要性。我们采用合成控制法（synthetic control method）构建对照组区域，并与处理组区域的发展情况进行对比分析。研究发现，研究型大学在短期内并未推动当地经济发展。更为重要的是，从长期维度来看，研究型大学对当地经济发展的影响甚至可能转为负面。本研究通过安慰剂检验（placebo test）验证了研究结果的稳健性。