A study on industrial structure optimization by establishment of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones in the yangtze river delta: perspectives on the differences among prefecture-level cities

This paper investigates the impact of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones on the optimization of the industrial structure in the Yangtze River Delta region, a pivotal area for China's economic development. It commences with a review of relevant literature and theoretical underpinnings concerning cross-border e-commerce and its influence on industrial structure. The study then provides a detailed account of the pilot zones' development and the region's current industrial structure, exploring the mechanisms that contribute to structural optimization. Utilizing a multi-period double difference (DID) method on panel data from 41 prefecture-level cities spanning from 2011 to 2020, the research meticulously assesses the impact of the pilot zones. The findings are validated through robustness tests and heterogeneity analyses, yielding significant insights. The study discerns that the establishment of pilot zones significantly bolsters the optimization of the industrial structure in Yangtze River Delta. The impact varies based on city size, administrative level, and the order of establishment. Three principal intermediary mechanisms are identified as catalysts for this optimization: the innovation-driven effect, which stimulates technological progress and innovative business models; the industrial agglomeration effect, which strengthens industry concentration and competitiveness; and the resource allocation effect, which enhances the efficiency of resource distribution across sectors