New-type urbanization and regional public health: mechanisms and effects

New-type urbanization (NTU) in China not only effectively promotes socio-economic transformation but also serves as a significant driving force for the coordinated development of regional social and environmental demands. Using data from China spanning 2007-2018, this study examines the effects and mechanisms of NTU on regional public health (RPH) by constructing panel fixed-effects, threshold-effects, moderated-effects, and spatial spillover models. The findings are as follows: ① NTU plays a significant role in promoting RPH. Threshold analysis reveals distinct threshold effects for employment density and industrial structure sophistication. ② Socio-economic agglomeration plays an important moderating role in the relationship between NTU and RPH. Specifically, there is a significant substitution effect between economic agglomeration and NTU in affecting RPH, while population agglomeration improves NTU's positive effect. ③ Across the eastern, central, and western regions, NTU has a positive impact on RPH, with the strength of influence increasing progressively. However, in economically developed regions, the effect is non-significant. ④ NTU shows significant spatial spillover effects on RPH, with indirect effects exceeding direct effects. The main factor influencing NTU's inhibitory effect on RPH is whether regions are adjacent.