Road Networks and Micro-Scale Consumption Vitality:

This study has constructed a dataset at the street-town level, utilizing geospatial information and comprehensive data from the restaurant industry. Employing double machine learning (DML), the authors empirically examine the impact of road transportation development on consumption vitality at the township level within the Yangtze River Delta region of China. The findings analysis reveals that road network density, connectivity, and structure significantly enhance consumption vitality, with heterogeneous effects across road types and geographic contexts. The analysis demonstrates that enhancing road transportation infrastructure not only facilitates new manufacturing firms’ entry but also promotes tourism development and reduces environmental pollution, thereby collectively boosting local consumption vitality. It is recommended that urban planners and policymakers focus on enhancing road connectivity and structure to stimulate economic activities and boost consumption at the township level.