The Effects of Connection among Cities and Factor Endowments on Urban Sustainable Competitiveness

In this paper,we study the spatial distribution and factors affecting urban sustainable competitiveness comprehensively by using exploratory spatial data analysis(ESDA) and spatial econometrics models.We find that urban sustainable competitiveness of Chinese cities showing the typical club feature,enterprise and personnel connections among cities,human capital and the degree of intensive development of cities has a positive effect on urban sustainable competitiveness,while the city material resources endowments like natural resources and land resources have almost no impact on urban sustainable competitiveness.Through further empirical research on sub region,we find that there are significant regional differences in the degree and direction of the impact on urban sustainable competitiveness of enterprise and personnel connections among cities,human capital and the degree of intensive development of cities,which can explain in large part the spatial differentiation of urban sustainable competitiveness of Chinese cities.Overall,this study shows that the extensive development pattern relied on by local government which relies on resource exploration,land transfer and deviates from comparative advantage is unsustainable,the key to improve urban sustainable competitiveness is to employ the intensive development pattern which in line with the comparative advantage based on resource endowments and raise the level of connections and human capital gradually.