The Impact of Expressway Development on Industrial Structure in Rugged Terrain: The Case of Sichuan Province, China

The expressway is an important pillar of economic development and has a significant impact on the transformation of regional industrial structure. This study analyzes the optimization of the industrial structure and spatial distribution of three industries using relevant statistical data from Sichuan Province, China. It also assesses the influence of expressways on the change in industrial structures using a difference-in-differences model. The results indicate that regions with well-developed expressway networks generated high-added value for the three industry sectors. The introduction of expressways upgraded the industrial structure of mountainous regions with rich tourism resources, increasing the added value of the tertiary industry and constricting the secondary industry. While aiding the overall development of the regional economy, expressways optimized the industrial structure and guided the transformation of the secondary industry, along with the development of the tertiary industry. Similarly, the private-sector economy also developed rapidly owing to the introduction of expressways. This study would serve as a useful reference for studying the relationship between expressways and regional economic development.