Mandarin, Dialect Diversity and Regional Technological Innovation in China

Abstract

Mandarin and dialect diversity both affect regional technological innovation, but their performance is different, which is of great significance for regional innovation and economic development, as well as coordinating the relationship between Mandarin and dialects in China. This paper utilizes panel data from 2013 to 2023 to empirically study the relationship between Mandarin, dialects and technological innovation in 271 cities in China. We find that: (1) The higher the Mandarin penetration rate, the more conducive it is to regional technological innovation. The dialect diversity and regional innovation exhibit an inverted U-shaped relationship in all three stages. (2) In areas with fewer dialects, lower city levels, and higher levels of advanced industrial structure, the promotion effect of Mandarin penetration rate on regional innovation is more obvious. (3) In areas with higher city levels and higher advanced industrial structure levels, moderate dialect diversity has a relatively stronger promoting effect on technological innovation. While excessive dialect diversity has a stronger inhibitory impact in areas with lower city levels and lower industrial structure levels. (4) Mandarin has a stronger promoting effect on the achievement transformation stage than the other stages, while dialect diversity plays a significantly stronger role in the R&D investment stage. Finally, policy recommendations were put forward at the informal institutional level to promote regional innovation.

Keywords: Mandarin penetration rate, dialect diversity, regional technological innovation