Three Questions Regarding Urbanization in China

Abstract

The three questions addressed in this article pertain, respectively, to the contributing factors, outcomes, and policy interventions associated with urbanization in China. Contributing factors include transition to a market-driven economy, political devolution, demographic changes, globalization, and technological change. These are unravelled with care, with a conclusion that embedded markets are the central contributing factor, with globalization and political institutions as important helpmates. Regarding urbanization outcomes, the evidence reviewed supports the convergence hypothesis in broad terms, but with ample evidence of hybridity, resulting in urbanization with Chinese characteristics. The article concludes with a call for a more balanced approach to urban policy interventions in China, whereby existing spatial planning perspectives are complemented by market-based perspectives.

Restructuring for growth in urban China: Transitional institutions, urban development, and spatial transformation

“…We, therefore, see policy convergence across cities in China through knowledge diffusion and policy learning. However, amid convergence, we can still find that development policies have strong local foundations and show evidence of hybridity (Heikkila, 2007), and that Hangzhou's development strategies are built upon local advantages. First, the city's historical and physical landscapes provide rich resources for the tourism industry and urban living.…”

“…Chinese cities have been transformed from socialist cities to post-socialist cities characterized by transitional institutions, developmental/entrepreneurial states, hybrid urbanization, and multi-layered space (Gaubatz, 2008;Heikkila, 2007;Li, 2005;Luo & Wei, 2009;Ma, 2002;Wei, 2010;Wu & Phelps, 2011). CBDs and development zones have become frontiers of globalization, and a polycentric urban development model can be observed as well.…”

“…The transformation of Chinese cities has by no means followed the convergence thesis that oversimplifies the impact of globalization and homogeneity on third-world cities. The evidence has revealed the hybrid nature of urbanization outcomes in China (Heikkila, 2007). Thus, there are strong internal forces of spatial and local contexts that drive up the transformation of Chinese cities.…”

“…Mao's state socialism and self-reliance have been restructured through the triple transition of decentralization, marketization, and globalization, which has empowered local states as well as global and market forces in urban and regional development (Wei, 2007). The post-socialist Chinese cities are transitional cities characterized by transitional institutions, hybrid urbanization, spatial rescaling, spatial fragmentation, and suburbanization (Heikkila, 2007;Li, 2005;Luo & Shen, 2008;Ma, 2002Ma, , 2005Wei, 2005).…”

Effects of Population and Land Urbanization on China’s Environmental Impact: Empirical Analysis Based on the Extended STIRPAT Model

“…On the other hand, land-centred development associated with the conversion of rural land into urban has been a significant feature of China's urbanization [51][52][53]. Mechanisms used include, among others, spatial reconfiguration, rapid outward development of cities, conversion of farm land, new zone development, creation of new towns and extension of ring roads.…”