Abstract

The paper presents an alternative approach to explain why regional productivity is different across regions by utilizing the creative class approach in China. First, we analyze the extent of spatial agglomeration of the creative class across regions in China. Second, we develop a model with spatial externalities to investigate how the concentration of the creative class can promote regional productivity. Our analysis confirms the importance of spatial agglomeration of the creative class in stimulating regional productivity. The results also imply that regional productivity is greater in markets with higher levels of innovation, capital stock, manufacturing and urbanization. In light of the results of our analysis, we discuss a number of policy implications.