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City Branding Evaluation as a Tool for Sustainable Urban Growth: A Framework and Lessons from the Yangtze River Delta Region

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  • Tianren Yang

    (College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
    Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UK)

  • Minghai Ye

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China)

  • Pei Pei

    (School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
    Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FS, UK)

  • Yongjiang Shi

    (Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FS, UK)

  • Haozhi Pan

    (School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China)

Abstract

With the rising tide of globalization, urban branding campaigns have become the focal points of decision makers and planners aiming to establish city reputations and to achieve long-term urban prosperity. This paper, therefore, aims to develop a sustainability-oriented city branding framework that incorporates (1) comprehensive perceptions from various stakeholders through questionnaires and (2) empirical applications that evaluate the city-level potentials for a global mega-region in support of its sustainable growth. Seven major aspects, i.e., economic development, environment, potential, pulse, people, infrastructure, and governance, have been identified and assessed in the context of 26 prefecture cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. Moreover, a cluster analysis differentiated these cities into four groups with distinct characteristics and development paths. Through the framework and evaluation outputs, local planners, researchers, and decision-makers would be better placed to design and implement sustainable policy packages and incentives, with a quantitative insight into current strengths and weaknesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianren Yang & Minghai Ye & Pei Pei & Yongjiang Shi & Haozhi Pan, 2019. "City Branding Evaluation as a Tool for Sustainable Urban Growth: A Framework and Lessons from the Yangtze River Delta Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:16:p:4281-:d:255738
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Rong Sheng & Tuo Lin, 2019. "Evolutionary Assessment of the Ecological Governance under the Metropolitan Background: Evidence from Chongming Eco-Island, Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Fang Chen & Wenya Sun, 2023. "How Does Carbon Emissions Efficiency Affect OFDI? Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Mina Safizadeh & Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali & Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki & Aldrin Abdullah, 2024. "Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 11243-11262, May.
    5. Hasan Fehmi Topal & Dexter V.L. Hunt & Christopher D.F. Rogers, 2020. "Urban Sustainability and Smartness Understanding (USSU)—Identifying Influencing Factors: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-30, June.
    6. Yuhong H. Cao & Jianxin X. You & Yongjiang J. Shi & Wei Hu, 2021. "Research on the Allocation Efficiency and Influencing Factors of Scientific and Technological Resources in the Yangtze River Delta City Group," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Shufen Guo & Ludi Wen & Yanrui Wu & Xiaohang Yue & Guilian Fan, 2020. "Fiscal Decentralization and Local Environmental Pollution in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    8. Stella Kostopoulou & Paraskevi-Kali Sofianou & Konstantinos Tsiokanos, 2021. "Silk Road Heritage Branding and Polycentric Tourism Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.

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