A Review of Differentiated Paths of Industrial Support Policies in the Process of Urban Agglomeration Integration — Taking Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao as Examples

Abstract

This paper takes the three major national-level urban agglomerations of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as research subjects, systematically reviewing their differentiated practical paths in industrial support policies during the integration process. Through comparative analysis, it provides an in-depth examination of the distinctive policy models in these regions: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei constructs collaborative complementary pathways through functional decentralization, the Yangtze River Delta forms innovative collaboration pathways via industrial chain integration, while the Greater Bay Area explores open integration pathways through institutional innovation. The study reveals significant differences in policy objectives, coordination mechanisms, and influencing factors across these three regions. Although the implementation of these differentiated approaches has achieved notable results, challenges such as administrative barriers and inefficient factor flows remain. Finally, this research summarizes policy experiences including respecting regional differences, innovating coordination mechanisms, and building diversified policy instruments. It proposes optimization suggestions for each of the three urban agglomerations—strengthening factor mobility and capacity-building, deepening market integration and innovation collaboration, and advancing institutional alignment with industrial deep integration—providing theoretical foundations and practical references for formulating industrial policies in China's distinctive urban agglomerations.