Spatial Spillover Effects of Regional Social Science Influence under Chinese Modernization: Based on Panel Data of 31 Provincial National Social Science Fund Projects from 2003 to 2022 and the Perspective of Regional Coordinated Development

Yile Yu; Yi Wang

doi:10.62177/chst.v2i3.566

Authors

Yile Yu Zhejiang University of Technology https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1477-8596
Yi Wang Hangzhou Normal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/chst.v2i3.566

Keywords:

Spatial Spillover Effects, Regional Social Science Influence, National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC), Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), Spatial Econometrics

Abstract

In the context of Chinese modernization and the national strategy for coordinated regional development, understanding the spatial distribution and spillover effects of social science research output has become increasingly critical. This study investigates the spatial mechanisms underlying the influence of regional social sciences by analyzing panel data on National Social Science Fund of China (NSSFC) projects across 31 provinces from 2003 to 2022. Using spatial econometric models—including the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM)—and three types of spatial weight matrices (adjacency, economic distance, and inverse geographic distance), the research identifies significant spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneous spillover effects. Key findings reveal that higher education R&D personnel significantly boost local project approval rates, while their spatial spillover effects vary by matrix type—ranging from competitive crowding-out in adjacent regions to positive diffusion under geographic proximity. Funding efficiency demonstrates robust positive spillovers, whereas individual project conversion ratios exhibit negative externalities, indicating resource competition among provinces. Furthermore, regional heterogeneity analysis shows stronger and more favorable spillover effects in economically developed eastern regions compared to the central-western provinces. Heatmap visualizations of NSSFC project distribution over two decades confirm a persistent “east-high, west-low” pattern in national academic influence. This study contributes theoretically by extending spatial spillover models to the domain of social science funding and offers policy-relevant insights into optimizing academic resource allocation through spatially differentiated strategies. The findings underscore the need for regionally adaptive governance mechanisms to enhance both efficiency and equity in national social science development.

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