Transport Poverty in Chinese Cities: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The widening income gap in post-reform China has given rise to social inequality. Among those, transport poverty and inequality have significantly affected the daily life of low-income groups. While important, this is an under-researched topic in China. This gap in the academic literature is glaring given the country’s urbanization rates, sprawling cities and income differentials. Most previous studies have only focused on two aspects of transport poverty—job-housing imbalance and accessibility. A comprehensive understanding of the causes and impacts of transport inequality is currently lacking. Therefore, a systematic review of academic literature based on keywords relevant to transport poverty in China was conducted to provide a more complete assessment of the situation in Chinese cities. In total, 62 relevant studies were identified after close examination of the articles (including titles, abstracts, and full-texts). This set of articles allowed a number of general patterns to be identified. It was found that the most common causes of transport poverty include: a lack of access to private vehicles; uneven access to alternative transport options; inadequate public transport provision; jobs-housing imbalance; and the hukou system (a system of household registration which aims to regulate population distribution and rural-to-urban migration). The main impacts of transport poverty include: curtailed mobility and longer travel times; higher household expenditures on travel; reduced access to jobs and essential services; higher household expenditures on travel; and health and environmental issues.

Examining the Relationship between Transportation Infrastructure, Urbanization Level and Rural-Urban Income Gap in China

“…Transport infrastructure developments have a beneficial distributive effect, helping to promote inclusive growth in rural areas and reduce income inequality [12,32]. Nonetheless, transport poverty, caused by inadequate transport options, the hukou system, and jobs-housing imbalance, needs to be addressed to promote equitable access to transportation and support sustainable development [33]. In conclusion, the research highlights the crucial role of transport infrastructure in promoting economic growth and other aspects of sustainable development.…”

Exploring the Relationships between Multilevel Built Environments and Commute Durations in Dual-Earner Households: Does Gender Matter?

“…China has experienced impressive economic growth since implementing market-oriented reforms. This growth causes widening income gaps and gives rises to social inequality in post-reform China [ 33 ]. In this context, transportation poverty and inequality in Chinese cities have received increasing research attention.…”

“…Owing to the complex urban structures and transport systems in China, daily commutes and non-commute travels in China are influenced by many factors [ 35 ], which are also closely related to the causes of transport poverty. These factors include a lack of access to cars, uneven access to alternative transport options, inadequate public transport provision, job-housing imbalance, and institutional factors [ 33 ]. Table 1 summarizes some of the results of prior studies that have examined the impacts of the above factors.…”

The Impacts of Transportation System towards the Military Logistics Support in Sabah

“…Given that these road networks are under government accountability, the pressures between the national and local needs on road priorities are unavoidable [4], [6]. Generally, the major road network's geographical coverage, which connects regional cities, is inadequate in rural areas [7]. Hence, the road network's main issues relate to the capacity and coverage [8], especially in rural areas [9].…”