The Power of Speed : High-Speed Railways and Scientific Research Competitiveness in China

This paper investigates the impact opening of high-speed railways (HSR) on scientific research competitiveness using data from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) research grants. We employ a difference-in-differences framework to estimate the causal effects of the treatment universities being connected to HSR. Our results indicate that the treatment universities experience significant improvements in their scientific research competitiveness. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we conduct analyses that reveal the extensive positive effects of HSR on human capital accumulation, government funding, information resources, and overall university competitiveness. These findings offer empirical evidence supporting the economic rationale for HSR and shed light on the microscopic mechanisms that facilitate positive spillover of knowledge creation and innovation resources from large cities to small cities through transportation infrastructure