Educational Development and Common Prosperity: The Roles of Urbanization, Innovation Capacity, and Industrial Transformation
AUTHORS
Wei Zhang ,Institute of Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
ABSTRACT
Educational development has become an essential driver of inclusive growth and sustainable socioeconomic transformation in the era of knowledge-based economies. This study investigates the relationship between educational development and common prosperity, with particular attention to the mediating roles of urbanization and regional innovation capacity, as well as the moderating effect of industrial structure upgrading. Using balanced panel data from 31 provincial-level administrative regions over the period 2014–2025, the study employs a quantitative research design that incorporates fixed-effects, mediation, and threshold analyses to examine the direct, indirect, and nonlinear effects of educational development on common prosperity. The findings reveal that educational development exerts a significant positive influence on common prosperity by enhancing human capital, improving labor productivity, and expanding opportunities for social mobility. The results further indicate that urbanization and regional innovation capacity serve as important mediating mechanisms through which educational development contributes to inclusive and sustainable development. In addition, industrial structure upgrading strengthens the relationship between educational development and common prosperity, suggesting that the benefits of education are more pronounced in regions with advanced industrial systems and innovation-oriented economies. Regional disparities remain evident, however, indicating the need for policies that promote balanced educational opportunities and equitable access to innovation resources. The study highlights the strategic importance of education as a catalyst for social inclusion, technological advancement, and economic resilience. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and educational institutions seeking to align educational development with innovation, industrial transformation, and long-term prosperity.
KEYWORDS
Educational development, Common prosperity, Urbanization, Regional innovation capacity, Industrial structure upgrading, Human capital, Engineering education, Sustainable development
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