This　article　examined　the　causal　relationship　between　economic　and　innovation　performance　and　the　associated　lag　time　within　282　prefecture-level　cities　in　China.　With　the　nighttime　light　(NTL)　intensity　representing　economic　status　and　19　indicators　comprehensively　simulating　the　innovation　performance　index　(CII),　the　Granger　causality　test　was　applied.　The　results　showed　that　the　temporal　lag　between　economic　status　and　innovation　performance　varies　among　cities.　The　innovation　performance　of　145　cities　showed　significant　causal　relationships　with　economic　development　in　the　ItoN　test,　and　the　average　time　lag　was　2.01　years.　The　economic　development　of　137　cities　also　showed　significance　in　innovation　performance,　with　an　average　time　lag　of　3.15　years　in　the　NtoI　test.　The　growth　rate　of　economic　development　and　innovation　performance　has　strongly　impacted　the　temporal　lag,　especially　in　the　ItoN　causality　test.　A　bidirectional　causality　between　economic　and　innovation　performance　was　found　in　136　cities,　but　these　cities　complete　the　‘economy-innovation-economy’　circle　over　a　long　period.　Overall,　this　study　concludes　that　the　Granger　causality　test　offers　a　useful　approach　to　measure　the　time　lag　between　economic　and　innovation　performance,　which　can　help　better　implement　policies　and　expand　research　on　economy　and　innovation.　©　2022　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.