Specialty towns in China: Towards a typological policy approach

Xiaohui Hu, Qianbo Wu, Wei Xu and Yuwen Li

Land Use Policy, 2022, vol. 114, issue C

Abstract: Recently, a new state-led platform of regional development in China, known as specialty towns, has been launched and rolled out nationwide. Despite the greater emphasis on place-based industry specialism and agglomeration, the new strategy suffers from a typical top-down governance approach that has confronted emerging problems. In this paper by using the agglomeration theory we link regional preconditions for industrial and social (dis)advantages to various patterns of specialty towns. Drawing upon modern policy concepts from an evolutionary perspective, it offers a basic ex ante policy approach, by developing more specific policy orientations suitable for different types of specialty towns. Combined with our survey, on-site interviews and policy material analyses, we examine the historical foundations, industrial attributes and developmental aims of 134 provincial-level specialty towns in Zhejiang. We have identified three key types of specialty towns with grounded empirical illustrations: 1) State-planned platform specialty towns for developing emerging industries (Dream Town and Photovoltaic Town); 2) Specialized market-based specialty towns for upgrading mature industries (Socks Art Town) and; 3) Natural/cultural asset-based specialty towns for fostering the tourism industry (Hot Springs Town). A typological policy approach is proposed in order to avoid the potential ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy trap for future’s ST development.

Keywords: Specialty towns; Agglomerations; Typology; Regional policy approach; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:114:y:2022:i:c:s0264837721006566

DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105933

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