SPATIAL NETWORK OF DIGITAL TALENT MOBILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN URBAN AGGLOMERATIONS IN CHINA

This study examines digital talent mobility across five major urban agglomerations in China and its impact on economic growth using network analysis, hierarchical clustering, and spatial autoregressive models. Findings reveal that: First, digital talent mobility exhibits distinct characteristics, with the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei experiencing net inflow, while the Chengdu–Chongqing and Triangle of Central China are net outflows. Second, the network consistently follows a core–semi-periphery–periphery hierarchy. Lastly, both talent inflow and outflow positively influence economic growth, and economic growth experiences positive spatial spillovers. These insights support optimizing talent allocation and regional economic development strategies.