Spatial network structure shapes the spatiotemporal evolution and disparity formation of regional economic resilience in China

Understanding the spatial evolution of regional economic resilience is essential to sustainable and inclusive development in an increasingly interconnected economy. Using balanced panel data for 272 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2006 to 2023, this study constructs a six-dimensional resilience index and a Granger-based directional association network to examine spatiotemporal evolution, network differentiation, and regional disparities. The results show that economic resilience improved steadily, while overall disparities narrowed until 2016 and then widened moderately, remaining below their 2006 level. Nevertheless, strong spatial clustering and pronounced lock-in in both high–high and low–low clusters persisted. The network displays a multi-centred and hierarchical structure, differentiating cities into dominant spillover, bidirectional spillover, and primary beneficiary communities and producing a pattern of core diffusion, intermediate lock-in, and peripheral dependence. Convergence patterns vary across network positions: primary beneficiary cities exhibit the strongest catch-up tendency, whereas bidirectional spillover cities combine β-convergence with σ-divergence. The QAP results show that HSR connectivity and intercity investment linkages are associated with narrower resilience gaps in the full sample, while the relationship between investment linkages and resilience disparities varies across network communities. These findings indicate that economic resilience is not solely a local attribute but also has a relational dimension closely associated with intercity connectivity and network position. They support differentiated policies to strengthen cross-regional coordination, remove transmission bottlenecks, and promote the inclusive diffusion of resources and opportunities. By revealing how economic resilience and spatial inequality vary across network positions, this study advances understanding of sustainable and inclusive regional development and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).