Evolution and Network Effects of Economic Spatial Correlation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Exploring the evolution of economic spatial correlation and its network effect has theoretical significance of the economic spatial cooperation pattern in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area In this paper, the modified gravity model, social network analysis, and OLS regression model were used to examine the evolution characteristics regarding the economic spatial network structure and its effect in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is found as follows. 1) The strength of economic connection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area had been continuously increased, driven by four cores in space and economic radiating at the edge became stable. Additionally, the potential energy of economic connection consistently rose, the network density and network relationships of economic network structure fluctuated, but dynamically increased. The network hierarchy varied but increased overall, the network efficiency showed a "V" shaped structure with an initial decline but an overall increase later. 2) The degree centrality of network steadily improved, and the spatial structure gradually transformed from a multi-point agglomeration to a bipolar confrontation. Additionally, the closeness centrality was highly unbalanced and varied greatly, and the betweenness centrality increased significantly. The control force of Shenzhen dominated economic connection role. 3) The augment of the network density and hierarchy as well as the decrease of network efficiency can effectively improve the economic connection intensity of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area The degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and closeness centrality are also able to enhance the economic connection strengths in the Greater Bay Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]