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Spatial inequality in the city-regions in the Yangtze River Valley, China

Author

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  • Huan Li

    (Ludong University, China)

  • Yehua Dennis Wei

    (Department of Geography, University of Utah, USA; Department of Land Management, Zhejiang University, China)

  • Elfie Swerts

    (Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

The city-region has emerged as an important scale of state spatial strategy in China to promote equitable and sustainable development. This study investigates the spatial inequality of city-regions in the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) in terms of population, land, GDP and productivity, and examines changing patterns and factors of GDP per capita. We find that the spatial form of the YRV is typical of city-regions in China, where population density and productivity around mega-cities are much higher and decline from the low to the middle and upper reaches of the YRV. We also find that inequality across city-regions is high, and that most inequality is due to differences within city-regions. We find that the YRV is driven by capital-intensive and labour-intensive growth, with an emerging significance of productivity. Our analysis reveals the significance of institutional factors, including the processes of marketisation, globalisation, decentralisation and urbanisation in regional development. Moreover, the importance of the non-state sector in economic growth has been increasing, while the role of globalisation has been declining.

Suggested Citation

  • Huan Li & Yehua Dennis Wei & Elfie Swerts, 2020. "Spatial inequality in the city-regions in the Yangtze River Valley, China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(3), pages 672-689, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:3:p:672-689
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019898145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrew EG Jonas, 2020. "China’s urban development in context: Variegated geographies of city-regionalism and managing the territorial politics of urban development," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(3), pages 701-708, February.
    2. Yazhu Wang & Hui Zou & Xuejun Duan & Lingqing Wang, 2022. "Coordinated Evolution and Influencing Factors of Population and Economy in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-19, November.
    3. Agustin Leon-Moreta & Vittoria Totaro, 2023. "Interlocal interactions, municipal boundaries and water and wastewater expenditure in city-regions," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(1), pages 46-66, January.
    4. Fulong Wu, 2020. "Adding new narratives to the urban imagination: An introduction to ‘New directions of urban studies in China’," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(3), pages 459-472, February.

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