Regional Economic Effects of Airport and High-Speed Rail Connections

Building an air–rail transport network that connects airports with railways helps promote regional economic development. The potential for such development is no more evident than in China. Since 2008, the rapid development of China’s high-speed railway indicates that the country’s transportation system is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This chapter demonstrates the significant positive impact of air–rail transport on regional economic development by employing a difference-in-differences (DID) approach. Additionally, we conduct an instrumental variable (IV) estimation and a series of robustness tests. Further analysis reveals that the connectivity between airports and HSR helps optimize the segregation of passenger and freight traffic, improving freight efficiency. Moreover, this connection enhances consumption, thereby boosting regional economic growth. Lastly, the connectivity between airports and HSR promotes urbanization and fosters regional growth.