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Distributive politics in China: Regional favouritism and expansion of construction land

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  • Shenghua Lu

    (Zhejiang University, China)

  • Hui Wang

    (Zhejiang University, China)

Abstract

Land conversion control in China remains in the shadow of the planned economy. Highly hierarchical governments fully control both land quotas and land approval, which are indispensable for each added area of construction land. But the actual mechanisms of land resource distribution, because they are masked by the ambiguity of institutional provisions, are opaque. This article discusses the theoretical influence of regional favouritism to birthplace on the expansion of construction land. Using a provincial-level dataset and detailed information about political cadres in the Ministry of Land and Resources, we estimate an econometric model that reflects the relationship between regional favouritism and construction land expansion. The results indicate that, all else equal, the birthplaces of political cadres receive a larger scale of construction land expansion than other locations. We further explore the paths of regional favouritism influencing construction land expansion. The results show that land approval and tolerance of illegal land due to regional favouritism together contribute to the expansion of construction land.

Suggested Citation

  • Shenghua Lu & Hui Wang, 2020. "Distributive politics in China: Regional favouritism and expansion of construction land," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(8), pages 1600-1619, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:8:p:1600-1619
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019835677
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shenghua Lu & Hui Wang, 2022. "Limited Decentralization: Understand China’s Land System from the Perspective of Central-Local Relation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Dong Ouyang & Xigang Zhu & Xingguang Liu & Renfei He & Qian Wan, 2021. "Spatial Differentiation and Driving Factor Analysis of Urban Construction Land Change in County-Level City of Guangxi, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-21, June.

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