Policy effect and spatial differentiation of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development

The driving force behind coordination is that the regional coordination policies can benefit the weak. Since the implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development policy, its actual effect has been questioned. Some negative views suggest that this policy has only benefited Beijing and Tianjin, but has not promoted the development of Hebei. In response to this question, this paper takes the implementation of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development policy in 2015 as a natural experiment, using synthetic control method and panel data from 2010 to 2020, empirically evaluates the policy effect and spatial heterogeneity of this policy on economic growth, industrial structure optimization and air quality improvement of Hebei. Results indicate that: (1) The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development policy did not significantly drive the economic growth of Hebei, but promoted the optimization of industrial structure and the improvement of air quality, showing a trend of high-quality coordinated development. (2) The policy effect on prefecture-level cities of Hebei is different due to their distance from Beijing and Tianjin, showing a center-periphery diffusion pattern with Beijing and Tianjin as the core. (3) The cities close to Beijing have obtained obvious effect of industrial structure optimization, and the cities close to Tianjin have obtained obvious effect of economic growth. Cities around Beijing and Tianjin are significantly better than cities in southern Hebei in terms of air quality improvement. In the future, we need to view this policy with a new concept of high-quality development, scientifically promote the industrial transfer and undertaking within the urban agglomeration, and continuously consolidate the basic conditions for economic development of Hebei. It is also necessary to achieve spatial equity and adapt to local conditions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordination. © 2024 Science Press. All rights reserved.