Manufacturing sector spatial pattern evolution and its relationship with regional economic differences: Evidence from Jiangsu, China

This study presents the case of China's Jiangsu Province. The spatial-temporal pattern evolution of different manufacturing sectors is discussed using spatial analysis technology (spatial autocorrelation and standard deviation ellipses). The Granger test is used to analyze the relationship between the change in the manufacturing industry spatial agglomeration and regional economic differences. The following conclusions are drawn: 1) The spatial agglomeration trend of most manufacturing sectors is weakening. Much of the manufacturing sector, like the rubber and plastic product industries, has been transferred from southern to northern Jiangsu. 2) From the scale, only a minority of these enterprises possess substantial registered capital. The capital injection scale of more manufacturing enterprises is insignificant. At the same time, manufacturing companies with substantial financial resources are increasingly inclined to choose less-concentrated areas when choosing new investment areas. 3) The reduction of regional economic differences is considered to be the Granger-cause for the decline of the spatial agglomeration degree of the manufacturing industry in Jiangsu Province. Analyzing the spatiotemporal pattern of the manufacturing industry in Jiangsu Province will provide specific policy reference values for the manufacturing industry and economic development of Jiangsu province. In addition, for companies of different sizes, the findings of this paper also provide valuable references on how they can choose suitable investment locations according to their size in the future.