Rethinking Regional Division: Incorporating Urban Development Level for Accurate Economic Analysis

Traditional regional divisions, often based on geographical proximity, fail to capture the complexities of economic disparities within regions. Figure 2, derived from the 'China City Commercial Attraction Ranking in 2020', illustrates this limitation by showcasing the average trend of city rankings. The significant variations in ranking within geographically defined regions underscore the need for a more nuanced approach. Incorporating indicators of urban development level, such as those reflected in the 'China City Commercial Attraction Ranking', can provide a more accurate and insightful basis for regional division and subsequent economic analysis.