The Mechanism of Population Mobility Driving Economic Development from the Perspective of Social Networks
Abstract
As a key bridge connecting individuals and opportunities, social networks play a central driving and regulating role in the complex interaction between population mobility and economic development. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review and critically assess the research on population mobility and economic development based on the social network perspective, focusing on how the social network influences mobility decisions, patterns, and ultimate economic effects through the core mechanisms of information dissemination, trust building, resource acquisition, and social support. The study shows that social networks can not only significantly reduce the cost and risk of migration and shape the path of mobility, but also become an important force to promote regional economic development by facilitating knowledge spillover, labour market matching, consumption pattern integration and industrial linkage. At the same time, its potential closure and uneven distribution of resources may also exacerbate regional imbalance and social differentiation. Future research needs to deepen the exploration of the mechanism, pay attention to the heterogeneity and dynamic evolution of the network, and provide more operational insights for policy making.
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