Research on the Spatial Effects of New-Type Urbanization on the Urban–Rural Income Gap in the Yangtze River Delta Region

Abstract

Amid the deepening implementation of the Equitable wealth distribution strategy and the China’s unique modernization trajectory, new-type urbanization serves as a critical lever to dismantle the urban-rural dual structure, prompting considerable scholarly attention to its spatial effects on resident income distribution. Taking 41 prefecture-level cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2013 to 2023 as a research sample, this study constructs a multidimensional new-type urbanization evaluation system and applies spatial autocorrelation analysis alongside spatial autoregressive models to systematically investigate the underlying mechanisms through which new-type urbanization affects the urban-rural income gap.The findings indicate that the urban-rural income gap in the Yangtze River Delta exhibits a significant positive spatial autocorrelation, characterized by a stable “low in the southeast and high in the northwest” spatial pattern and pronounced path dependence.Empirical results reveal that new-type urbanization exerts a profound dual effect on the urban-rural income gap, functioning simultaneously as a mechanism for “local convergence” and a “neighboring siphon”. Consequently, this paper advocates for deepening the household registration system reform and advancing the equalization of public services. Furthermore, it suggests establishing cross-regional collaborative mechanisms, akin to the Chang-Zhu-Tan metropolitan area model, to facilitate a strategic paradigm shift from a “core siphon” to “regional radiation”.