Construction industry improvement in China: lessons for other developing countries

Shang Gao and Yan Ning

Chapter 20 in Research Companion to the Construction Industry in Developing Countries, 2026, pp 517-540 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: China's construction industry has undergone significant economic, structural and technological transformations. Contributing over 7 per cent to GDP and employing 50 million professionals and workers, it is one of the largest industries globally. Despite these achievements and the completion of numerous engineering marvels, China's construction industry remains relatively unknown to many researchers outside China. Jean Chen's work in Construction Management and Economics offered one of the earliest insights; it concluded that “dramatic progress has been made by the construction industry, and it has developed at an amazing speed”. This conclusion remains valid nearly three decades later. However, a present reflection on the industry's advancements is necessary. This chapter provides an overview of China's construction industry and outlines its ongoing shift to be greener, leaner, smarter and more technologically advanced. Using initiatives in Jiangsu Province as a case study, these findings are validated and factors that could guide construction transformation efforts in other developing countries are highlighted.

Keywords: China; Construction industry; Reform; State-owned enterprises; SOEs; Improvement; Lessons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035336302
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