[Abstract] We analyze the impact of the central-local bureaucratic relation on the synchronization of regional economic growth in China using pairwise panel data of 31 provincial-level administrative units (465 pairs) from 1993 to 2014. We identify a significant positive impact of bureaucratic integration (top provincial-level government officials who have served in the central government) on regional output synchronization. Results from the estimations of instrumental variable, generalized method of moments, and sub-samples remain robust. However, bureaucratic rotation (top provincial-level government officials with prior working experience in other province) has no effects on regional output synchronization.

[Key words] Bureaucratic integration; Bureaucratic rotation; Business cycle synchronization; China

本文2020年10月正式发表于China Economic Review第63卷，该期刊为武汉大学经济与管理学院B+类期刊，金融系特聘副研究员薛畅为本文通讯作者。