Abstract:

The establishment of Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones (CEC Pilot Zones) is a significant strategic initiative to stabilize foreign trade and promote consumption, and it is also an effective means to promote the structural transformation and upgrading of the service industry. Based on the panel data of Chinese cities from 2004 to 2019, this paper employs a multi-periods DID model to explore the impact of the construction of CEC Pilot Zones on the development of urban productive services. The findings are as follows: The construction of CEC Pilot Zones can promote the development of urban productive service industries by 18.6 percent. This promotion is mainly achieved through three channels, that is, enhancing the regional informatization level, improving the labor market environment, and reducing urban transaction costs. The establishment of CEC Pilot Zones has mainly increased the development of productive services in areas with high internet penetration and strong innovation capabilities, and it has significantly promoted the development of all sub–sectors of productive services.The government should continue to improve the construction of CEC Pilot Zones to fully leverage their key role in driving industrial transformation and upgrading.

Key words:

Cross-border E-commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zones, productive service industries, informatization , level, labor market environment, transaction costs