Spatial Pattern and Influencing Factors of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's Direct Investment in the Pearl River-Xijiang River Economic Belt

Abstract

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's direct investment in the Chinese mainland is the focus of economic and trade links in four-regions of China across the straits, and the external features and internal mechanism of its spatial layout need to be studied urgently. We use nearest neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation with the help of ArcGIS software and spatial econometric model to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's direct investment manufacturing in 11 cities of the Pearl River-Xijiang River Economic Belt in 2018.And we find:(1)Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's direct investment (enterprises) generally presents the "Guangdong intensive, Guangxi sparse" spatial layout features;(2)Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's direct investment (enterprises) form a mono-core conglomarate pattern based on "metropolis circle-central city" in space. There is no significant heterogeneity in the spatial cluster characteristics of different types of manufacturing industry;(3)The overall spatial distribution of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan's direct investment is the result of the combined action of three factors, including the level of basic elements, market size and regional policies, among which labor cost is the most important. Various factors show certain commonalities and differences due to different types of manufacturing industry.