Stay or Leave? The Impact of Haze Pollution on Innovation Talent Mobility in China

Jingyu Bi, Xi'an Jiaotong University
MENG BAI, Xi`an Jiaotong University
Shuzhuo Li , Xi'an Jiaotong University

This paper explores the impact of haze pollution on the migration patterns of high-tech industry inventors in China. It examines how deteriorating air quality forces inventors to migrate to cities with better environmental conditions, which in turn affects the innovation output of firms. The study also investigates the moderating effects of the GDP gap, urban innovation vitality gap, state ownership, and inventors’ patent output on these migration decisions. Using an unbalanced panel dataset covering 128 cities, 1,460 firms, and 34,762 city-inventor-year observations from 2008 to 2019, the research highlights the role of environmental factors in shaping talent mobility and the broader economic implications for innovation. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to retain highly skilled talent in regions grappling with pollution challenges.

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 Presented in Session P4. Migration, Migrants, and Mobility