Measuring the Level of Regional Economic Synergistic Development and Its Driving Factors.

Using the case of 21 cities of Guangdong Province, China, this study uses the Harken model to evaluate the level of regional economic synergistic development from 2000 to 2019 and three economic synergistic development drivers, including comparative advantage, economic linkage, and industry. The study finds that the regional industrial division of labor is the main regional economic synergistic development driver in Guangdong. It also finds that the overall level of synergistic development has evolved from an intermediate diffusion stage to an advanced, symbiotic one. However, apparent differences exist in the gradient of the East Guangdong – West Guangdong – North Guangdong – Pearl River Delta. The results of this study and their implications are also explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]