关键词: 长江三角洲, 经济一体化, 高质量发展, 社会网络分析, QAP

Abstract: Based on the data of cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2006 to 2018, this paper constructs the evaluation index system of high-quality economic development, uses the modified gravity model to identify the spatial correlation of high-quality economic development among cities in the Yangtze River Delta, then measures the level of regional economic integration with social network analysis, and uses the quadratic assignment procedure to investigate the driving mechanism of regional economic integration from the perspective of endogenous and exogenous perspectives. The research finds that: The high-quality economic development in the Yangtze River Delta has significant spatial inequality, which is manifested in the higher development level in the east and the lower development level in the west, the higher development level in the middle and the lower development level in the north and south. Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou play the role of “leaders” in high-quality economic development. The high-quality economic development of the Yangtze River Delta presents a multi-threaded complex network structure, but the spatial correlation is sparse, the network structure is fragile, the agglomeration effect is not significant, and the process of economic integration under the standard of high-quality development is still in the primary stage. From the endogenous perspective, green development, coordinated development and innovative development are the main endogenous driving factors of regional economic integration in the Yangtze River Delta. Open development and shared development can only play a limited role. In the future, while opening wider to the world, we should accelerate the convenience and sharing of public services so that the achievements of economic integration can be shared by all people more equally. From the exogenous perspective, financial development and population mobility are the main driving factors of economic integration in the Yangtze River Delta, and the impact of economic fluctuations and social consumption is relatively low. We should further improve the integration of commodity markets and promote the coordination of economic planning.

Key words: Yangtze River Delta, Economic Integration, High-Quality Development, Social Network Analysis, QAP