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Testing the Global City-Social Polarisation Thesis: Hong Kong since the 1990s

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  • Stephen W. K. Chiu

    (Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong. StephenChiu@cuhkedu.hk)

  • Tai-lok Lui

    (Department of Sociology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong. tailoklui@cuhk.edu.hk)

Abstract

The literature on the development of global cities suggests that Hong Kong had qualified as a global city by the early 1990s. Using data from the Population Censuses, this paper documents the extent to which the process of social polarisation accompanied Hong Kong's globalisation. As predicted by the global city literature, Hong Kong experienced during the 1990s a process of occupational polarisation and widening income inequality as a result of its transformation from an industrial colony to a producer service-driven global city. The paper outlines the gender dimension in this polarisation process, and how the forces of migration contributed to the reshaping of the social structure so that it now resembles an 'hour-glass'. The findings largely support Sassen's hypotheses regarding the social consequences of global city development, but the paper also highlights the effect of local institutional contexts in mediating the impact of global forces.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen W. K. Chiu & Tai-lok Lui, 2004. "Testing the Global City-Social Polarisation Thesis: Hong Kong since the 1990s," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 41(10), pages 1863-1888, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:41:y:2004:i:10:p:1863-1888
    DOI: 10.1080/0042098042000256297
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jack Burgers & Sako Musterd, 2002. "Understanding Urban Inequality: A Model Based on Existing Theories and an Empirical Illustration," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 403-413, June.
    2. John Friedmann, 1986. "The World City Hypothesis," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 69-83, January.
    3. Chris Hamnett, 1994. "Social Polarisation in Global Cities: Theory and Evidence," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(3), pages 401-424, April.
    4. Chris Hamnett, 1996. "Social Polarisation, Economic Restructuring and Welfare State Regimes," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 33(8), pages 1407-1430, October.
    5. Zhigang Tao & Y. C. Richard Wong, 2002. "Hong Kong: From an Industrialised City to a Centre of Manufacturing-related Services," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 39(12), pages 2345-2358, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tong, Yuying & Chen, Feinian & Su, Wenyang, 2019. "Living arrangements and older People's labor force participation in Hong Kong, 1986–2016," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 50-59.
    2. Lih-Shing Chan & Kee-Lee Chou, 2018. "A Survey of Asset Poverty Among Older Adults of Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 138(2), pages 605-622, July.
    3. Siu-Yau Lee & Kee-Lee Chou, 2016. "Trends in Elderly Poverty in Hong Kong: A Decomposition Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(2), pages 551-564, November.
    4. Kelvin Chi-Kin Cheung & Kee-Lee Chou, 2016. "Working Poor in Hong Kong," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 317-335, October.
    5. Chris Hamnett, 2011. "Urban Social Polarization," Chapters, in: Ben Derudder & Michael Hoyler & Peter J. Taylor & Frank Witlox (ed.), International Handbook of Globalization and World Cities, chapter 32, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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