Investigating the influence of transport accessibility on urban-rural income gaps

Transport accessibility is an essential element in the planning of transport policies and plays a crucial role in territorial cohesion, but the role of transport accessibility for urban-rural integration has been rarely studied. This article explores the relationship between transport accessibility and urban-rural income gaps through the spatial error model, using the weighted average travel time (WATT) indicator and the Theil index of urban-rural income. The results show that transport accessibility has a U-shaped influence on the urban-rural income gaps within cities of China. As transport accessibility gradually improves, the urban-rural income gaps within cities tend to first narrow and then widen. Meanwhile, their relationship can show heterogeneity across regions, with improving transport accessibility and narrowing the urban-rural income gaps in the eastern and western cities, respectively. Such a result suggests that it is essential to reinforce transport links between western cities and other cities with high economic potential, which could improve transport accessibility and further narrow the urban-rural income gaps of western cities. For transport planning, policymakers should consider transport accessibility and its socio-economic impact on urban-rural integration.