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Megalopolis unbound: Knowledge collaboration and functional polycentricity within and beyond the Yangtze River Delta Region in China, 2014

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  • Yingcheng Li

    (Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK)

  • Nicholas Phelps

    (Bartlett School of Planning, University College London, UK)

Abstract

Recent work on world city networks, urban polycentricity and megapolitan urban forms share an interest in the economic functionality of inter-city linkages. The intersection of these bodies of literature is in the often overlooked defining features of megalopolitan forms – their being the ‘hub’ that links national to international urban systems and the ‘incubator’ within national urban systems (Gottmann, 1976). With this intersection in mind, this paper measures the functional polycentricity of China’s Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR) at different geographical scales from an intercity knowledge collaboration perspective. The paper uses data on co-publications as an indicator of knowledge linkages between cities within and beyond this megalopolis. The YRDR can be seen as functionally polycentric at the megapolitan scale but this functional polycentricity decreases with increases in the geographical scale at which interurban linkages are considered. Furthermore, a multi-scalar analysis of functional polycentricity helps identify the hub role of Shanghai. The results show that Shanghai’s knowledge hub role is currently present at the national scale. It may take some time for Shanghai to become a knowledge hub at the global scale given its not-so-strong international links and relatively weak local links. The paper concludes with some suggestions for future research agendas.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingcheng Li & Nicholas Phelps, 2018. "Megalopolis unbound: Knowledge collaboration and functional polycentricity within and beyond the Yangtze River Delta Region in China, 2014," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(2), pages 443-460, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:55:y:2018:i:2:p:443-460
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098016656971
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    2. Wei Li & Desheng Xue & Xu Huang, 2018. "The Role of Manufacturing in Sustainable Economic Development: A Case of Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Shuaishuai Han & Changhong Miao, 2022. "Does a Polycentric Spatial Structure Help to Reduce Industry Emissions?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Zhang, Yuerong & Marshall, Stephen & Manley, Ed, 2019. "Network criticality and the node-place-design model: Classifying metro station areas in Greater London," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-1.
    5. Weiyang Zhang & Ben Derudder, 2019. "How sensitive are measures of polycentricity to the choice of ‘centres’? A methodological and empirical exploration," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(16), pages 3339-3357, December.
    6. Zhijun Feng & Hechang Cai & Wen Zhou, 2020. "Structural Characteristics and Spatial Patterns of the Technology Transfer Network in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-28, March.
    7. Haitao Ma & Yingcheng Li & Xiaodong Huang, 2021. "Proximity and the evolving knowledge polycentricity of megalopolitan science: Evidence from China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, 1990–2016," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(12), pages 2405-2423, September.
    8. Chengliang Liu & Caicheng Niu & Ji Han, 2019. "Spatial Dynamics of Intercity Technology Transfer Networks in China’s Three Urban Agglomerations: A Patent Transaction Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-24, March.
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    11. Daidai Shen & Jean-Claude Thill & Jiuwen Sun, 2020. "Are Chinese Cities Oversized?," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 43(6), pages 632-654, November.

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