Wang, Z; Hu, T; Liu, J; Xia, B; Bao, Z and Zhao, N (2025) The spatial correlation network and driving factors of economic resilience in the construction sector: Evidence from China. Construction Management and Economics, 43(11), pp. 961-982. ISSN 0144-6193
Abstract
The Chinese construction sector (CS) is the largest in the world in terms of total output value. Studying the economic resilience of the construction sector (ERCS) is thus of critical importance for the sustainable development of the CS globally. Regional differences in the CS economy have raised concerns about the spatial heterogeneity of the ERCS. In this study, the social network method and random forest models were used to explore the characteristics and driving factors of the ERCS spatial network. The findings reveal that the ERCS spatial network has a clear "center-edge" structure, with direct or indirect relationships across different regions as well as significant spatial spillover effects. The ERCS spatial network also exhibits a significant clustering pattern, with a high degree of internal integration and interdependence. Market size, technological innovation level, and industry scale were the main factors that promoted network formation. These insights provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive ERCS networks and offer guidance to countries aiming to develop sustainable growth strategies while also providing technical and managerial references to the global CS. This research framework thus serves as an effective complement to the sustainable development of the CS.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction sector; driving factors; economic resilience; random forest; spatial correlation network |
| Index terms: | clustering, interdependence, technological innovation, strategy, social network, sustainable development, forest, construction sector, China, integration, network formation, evidence |
| Subjects: | networking, Geography, health safety and environment, innovation and technology management, environmental science, evaluation and assessment methods, organizational analysis, sociology, industry analysis, management, data science |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Business Strategy, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here