What is it about?
This study explores how easily goods, services, and information can move between Chinese cities—known as market access—and how this affects the quality of foreign trade. Using data from 260 cities between 2014 and 2023, we found that the relationship is not simple: improving market access first slows, then boosts trade quality after reaching a key threshold. The research also shows that industrial upgrading and regional clustering help cities turn better connectivity into stronger, more resilient trade performance.
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Photo by Bumgeun Nick Suh on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Global trade is under increasing pressure from protectionism and economic uncertainty. Our research provides new evidence that improving regional connectivity is essential for transforming trade from low-cost expansion toward innovation-driven, high-quality growth. By identifying a clear threshold effect, the study offers practical guidance for policymakers to design infrastructure and industrial strategies that promote sustainable and balanced trade development, especially in less-developed regions.
Perspectives
For me, this paper represents an effort to connect spatial economics with real-world trade policy. I was inspired by China’s regional development disparities and wanted to understand why some cities benefit from better transport networks while others lag behind. The finding of a U-shaped relationship shows that infrastructure alone is not enough—industrial transformation and coordination matter equally. I hope this study encourages more evidence-based thinking about how to build fair and efficient market systems in developing economies.
Jianxin Mao
Yunnan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Does market access drive trade growth? Evidence from China, PLOS One, October 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334661.
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