2.1. Policy Background
Development zones are policy tools used by various countries to promote economic development in specific regions. These zones have several main objectives, such as attracting foreign direct investment, promoting concentrated industrial growth, encouraging technological innovation, creating employment opportunities, and accelerating regional economic progress [
52,
53,
54,
55,
56]. Consequently, different countries have established their own development zones, including free trade zones, industrial parks, economic and technological development zones, and industrial or science and technology parks [
53,
57,
58,
59].
China has been actively implementing policies of reform and opening up since the 1980s. This policy includes opening up to the international market, attracting direct foreign investment, and bringing in cutting-edge technology and managerial know-how. The year 1985 witnessed the issuance of the Decision on the Reform of the Science and Technology System by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The goal of this crucial policy is to speed up and expand the implementation of scientific and technological achievements in production, efficiently harnessing the expertise of scientific and technological professionals, and ultimately achieving the liberation of scientific and technological productivity for social progress. Recognizing the significance of innovation and scientific and technological development in driving economic growth, the Chinese government undertook a reformation of their science and technology framework. In 1988, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology initiated the ‘Torch Program’ with the aim of expediting China’s science, technology, and economic modernization endeavors. The objective of this program is to strengthen China’s standing in the worldwide science, technology, and innovation domains by facilitating and backing high-tech sectors. One of the key components of the Torch Program entails establishing a sequence of high-tech zones.
The Zhongguancun high-tech zone, located in Beijing, was established by China in 1998 as its inaugural high-tech zone. It holds a prominent position as the forerunner among the high-tech zones in China and has made significant contributions to the advancement of technological innovation and the promotion of entrepreneurship. Numerous cities have established their individual high-tech industrial development zones, replicating this successful model. These zones serve as catalysts for innovation in science and technology, upgrading industries and promoting economic development. They are the driving factors behind the expansion of high-tech industries in China. In 1988, China established its initial high-tech zone, marking the beginning of a 36-year journey. As of the end of 2021, the number of national high-tech zones has increased significantly to 169.
Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of cities that host national high-tech zones in 2021.
The development of high-tech zones can be categorized into three distinct stages. The initial stage (1988–2000) focused on the ‘first venture’ and prioritized ‘industrialization’. The main objective is to attract investment by leveraging various factors and overcoming the challenges posed by a weak industrial base. The second stage (2001–2008) shifted the development goal to ‘developing science and technology industrial parks’ from ‘building industrial parks’. The objective was to gather and foster innovative resources, nurturing independent innovation capabilities. The third stage (2009 to present) is characterized by the theme of a ‘third venture’. High-tech zones have expanded their position from ‘science and technology development zones’ to hubs with comprehensive innovation factors. They currently function as exemplary zones for the advancement of innovation-driven growth and are a forerunner in the realm of development characterized by excellent quality. Their new mission is to transform into a leading hub for high-tech industries, embrace the knowledge economy, cultivate a culture of innovation, promote modern ecological civilization, and build a harmonious community.
2.2. Mechanism Analysis
High-tech zones are innovation ecosystems that bring together individuals and organizations from various areas, including research institutes, universities, enterprises, and innovative entrepreneurs. The primary objective of these zones is to foster science, technology, and innovation, while also promoting economic development and creative activities [
60,
61,
62]. To bolster the regional economy, they actively endorse the advancement of talent, industries, and innovation chains, thereby fostering urban resilience and driving stable and sustainable growth. Thus, the establishment of high-tech zones is closely intertwined with the enhancement of urban economic resilience.
First, the establishment of high-tech zones is in line with the goal of strengthening urban economic resilience. High-tech zones mainly aim at attaining self-sufficiency and the advancement of science and technology. They actively contribute to the advancement of talent, industry, and innovation integration, which greatly contributes to the transition of development patterns and facilitates high-level growth [
63]. This, in turn, contributes to stable and sustainable economic growth, supporting the overall well-being and positive progress of the national economy. Moreover, it is crucial to strengthen the economic resilience of cities to ensure continued urban growth and to enable cities to adapt effectively, withstand shocks, and face challenges from both internal and external factors. By doing so, cities can ensure their long-term prosperity and sustainable development, avoiding severe economic recessions or crises [
13,
22]. Therefore, both objectives ultimately aim to foster stable and sustainable economic growth.
Second, there is a common concept shared between the establishment of high-tech zones and the enhancement of urban economic resilience. In line with the current trend of sustainable development, high-tech zones actively implement this new development concept. They explore green, low-carbon, and sustainable development paths to attain the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Additionally, high-tech zones strive to lead in the development of new energy, new technology, and novel business models within green and low-carbon industries [
52,
55,
64,
65]. The concept of urban economic resilience emphasizes elements such as economic diversity, scientific and technological innovation, resource sustainability, crisis response, and international competitiveness. Its primary goal is to foster environmentally friendly growth and enhance the economy’s ability to adapt to future development [
66,
67]. Therefore, the common concepts shared by both high-tech zones and urban economic resilience are low-carbon, green, inclusivity, and sustainability.
High-tech zones are a crucial component of a city’s economic resilience. Aligned with the national strategy, these zones aim to attract high-tech industries, foster innovation, and provide policy support [
56,
65]. This, in turn, enables cities to effectively tackle various challenges and uncertainties, while mitigating the impact of economic fluctuations and bolstering the diversity and stability of the regional economy. Furthermore, fostering collaboration between the government, enterprises, and society is essential for establishing national high-tech zones and enhancing urban economic resilience. With these premises, we put forward the subsequent hypothesis 1.
Hypothesis 1. The establishment of high-tech zones improve urban economic resilience in China.
The development disparities among Chinese regions contribute to the varying effects of high-tech zones on urban economic resilience. Firstly, the eastern coastal regions of China are more advanced and possess greater economic resources and innovation advantages. Conversely, the western regions may prioritize resource-based industries and infrastructure development. These regional disparities result in diverse impacts of high-tech zones on urban economic resilience across different regions. Secondly, disparities exist in terms of industrial structure, innovation ecosystems, and policy support between cities within and outside the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB). The heterogeneity in the impacts of high-tech zones on urban economic resilience is further intensified by these disparities. Lastly, China’s cities vary in size and development conditions, leading to differences in resource endowments. Larger cities typically possess more abundant resources and better industrial networks, thus exerting a more substantial influence on urban economic resilience through their high-tech zones. Conversely, high-tech zones in smaller cities are usually smaller in scale and less developed, leading to a comparatively smaller impact on urban economic resilience. Based on these observations, we propose hypothesis 2.
Hypothesis 2. The impact of high-tech zones on urban economic resilience is spatial heterogeneity, economic belt heterogeneity, and urban size heterogeneity.
According to Bristow and Healy [
68], regions that lead in innovation have a greater ability to recover from economic crises. Their urban economic resilience depends on diversification, flexibility, and adaptability, and innovation plays a crucial role in achieving these qualities. High-tech zones create favorable conditions for urban innovation and economic growth by introducing new industries and business models [
65]. This promotes the competitiveness and resilience of cities, enabling them to adapt to change, withstand shocks, and discover new growth opportunities. First, high-tech zones contribute to the development of a park economy by establishing technology-intensive collaborative R&D and innovation networks. This shift from traditional factor-dependent development to a science and technology-driven endogenous model reduces urban external dependency and enhances the city’s economic resilience [
69]. Second, the agglomeration of innovation resources, such as scientific research institutions, high-quality talent, financial capital, and innovative enterprises, is facilitated by high-tech zones [
70]. This agglomeration enhances the urban innovation capacity and creates economies of scale, thus establishing a more competitive and diverse innovation ecosystem for the city [
71,
72]. Moreover, high-tech zones help build a diverse innovation ecosystem, enabling cities to effectively handle a range of opportunities and challenges, bolstering their economic resilience. Finally, high-tech zones not only drive technological innovation but also support social and policy innovation, enabling cities to tackle issues such as environmental problems and public health crises. By addressing these challenges, potential economic risks are reduced, overall efficiency is improved, and cities are better equipped to face future challenges, ultimately enhancing their sustainability and economic resilience. Taking into consideration of these observations, we put forward hypothesis 3.
Hypothesis 3. High-tech zones improve urban economic resilience through a mediating path that enhances their urban innovation ability.
Cities that have high resource allocation efficiency can significantly enhance the utilization and output efficiency of production factors [
33,
73,
74], thereby improving their urban resilience and ability to recover from various challenges. Efficient resource allocation enables cities to optimize the utilization of human resources, capital, and technology, ensuring maximum output at minimal cost and waste. These improvements in efficiency contribute to urban economic productivity. Moreover, effective resource allocation helps in streamlining production processes and enhancing innovation capabilities, leading to the increased output efficiency of products and services. This enables cities to quickly adapt to market demand changes and enhances their potential for economic growth. Additionally, efficient resource allocation equips cities with the capability to respond to external shocks such as economic recessions, natural disasters, or other unforeseen events. Cities can flexibly adjust resource allocation, facilitating a swift resumption of normal operations and mitigating the negative impact on the economy.
High-tech zones concentrate capital, labor, and technology in technologically advanced areas while phasing out polluting, energy-intensive, and inefficient enterprises [
55,
64]. This shift allows for more effective resource allocation to enterprises with higher productivity, thereby fostering the emergence of new industries. Consequently, the application of production factors expands, reducing the potential economic risks in cities. Second, enterprises in high-tech zones possess unique advantages in terms of innovation and adaptation, enabling them to effectively manage costs and optimize resource allocation [
75,
76]. This results in lower production costs, increased productivity, and the creation of innovative products and technologies. By being adaptable to market changes and customer needs, cities can better navigate economic fluctuations and market dynamics. Finally, high-tech zones often benefit from favorable economic systems, including tax policies, financing support, intellectual property protection, and talent recruitment policies. These policies further enhance resource allocation, promote the growth of emerging industries, and strengthen urban competitiveness and resilience. Based on these observations, we propose hypothesis 4.
Hypothesis 4. Optimal resource allocation plays a moderating role in the relationship between high-tech zones and urban economic resilience.