Examining the Role of Education Spending on China’s Regional Economy from the Standpoints of Human and Intellectual Capital
Authors: Yu Yang , Tingting Yin , Ruoxi Li , Xinxin Wang 
Published: July 2023

This paper investigates the impact of local investments in education on the economic growth of different regions in China. It examines both the direct and indirect effects of financial investments in education. It analyzes the role of human capital and intellectual capital as mediators in the relationship between education and economic growth. The study utilizes a panel data model and a model of mediating effects to conduct an empirical analysis using data from China between 2000 and 2018. The findings indicate that local financial investment in education significantly impacts economic growth, although the magnitude of this effect varies across regions. Investing in education directly stimulates economic growth and indirectly promotes it by accumulating human and intellectual capital. Therefore, increasing investment in education and nurturing innovative, high-level talent are crucial steps towards achieving high-quality economic development in China. The literature review reveals that investment in education has been extensively studied concerning economic growth, with scholars emphasizing the role of human capital in the production process and the positive effects of education on worker productivity and income equality. However, educational investment’s impact on economic growth has shown variations in different countries and regions. Some studies suggest that excessive development of higher education may hinder local economic development, while others highlight the positive impact of educational inputs on human capital quality and technological innovation. To examine the causal mechanism explicitly, this paper proposes a causal inference model based on mediating effects, considering both human capital and intellectual capital as mediating variables. The research methodology includes a baseline regression model and a model of mediating products, employing panel data techniques and instrumental variable estimation to address endogeneity issues. The results of the baseline regression analysis support the positive relationship between local financial investment in education and economic growth, controlling for other factors such as capital stock, labour force, urbanization rate, trade dependence, and population growth. Furthermore, the mediating effects model suggests that education investment indirectly influences economic growth by enhancing human capital and promoting technological innovation. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how education affects regional economies in China. In conclusion, this study highlights the significance of education in driving high-quality economic development in China. It emphasizes the importance of increasing investment in education and fostering the development of innovative and highly skilled individuals. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth through education reform and targeted investments in human capital.