Abstract: Industrial cluster is an important engine of regional economy, which provides a strong spatial carrier and power source for the high-quality integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. Based on the sample data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2000 to 2023, this paper measures the high-quality integrated development in the region, and discusses the effect of industrial cluster and its mechanism. It is found that in the process of high-quality integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta, the industrial cluster effect is mainly reflected in three aspects, which are significantly promoting entrepreneurial activity, industrial digitalization level and industrial structure upgrading, and the conclusion is stable. Channel effect shows that urban economic density, financial development level, urbanization level and labor pool effect play an intermediary role in industrial agglomeration promoting regional economic development. The conclusion provides an important theoretical reference for giving full play to the industrial cluster effect and promoting the regional high-quality integrated development.
