Are Local Residents Benefiting from the Latest Urbanization Dynamic in China? China’s Characteristic Town Strategy from a Resident Perspective: Evidence from Two Cases in Hangzhou

Yi Yang (), Tetsuo Kidokoro, Fumihiko Seta and Ziyi Wang
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Yi Yang: Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Tetsuo Kidokoro: Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Fumihiko Seta: Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Ziyi Wang: Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-37

Abstract: The Characteristic Town (CT) program is one of the most notable strategies in China’s urbanization process in recent years, responding to the drawbacks of the past decades of crude urbanization development model and maintaining and promoting capital accumulation and economic growth with innovative approach to space production. However, no studies have been conducted to examine whether residents actually benefit from it. Therefore, we combined desk research, participatory observation, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires to evaluate its influence on residents in two representative cases in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, where the program originated. The results show limited improvement in public benefits: a general but insignificant improvement in the living standard of the residents; residents’ public participation is generally lacking; residents’ cognition of self-identity has begun to appear deviation, and barriers between them and foreign workers have begun to emerge; residents’ assessment of the new development strategy varies from case to case. Compared to other urban and rural redevelopment, renewal, and construction practices around the world, the CT program does not seem to appear to be overly special or advanced in terms of securing and enhancing public benefits. To this end, this study concluded that it is necessary to consider the need to adopt an official evaluation system that attaches equal importance to economic, environmental, and social factors, further strengthen the supervision of local financial expenditure, effectively strengthen the role of the public, improve infrastructure and public service facilities, and enhance the comprehensive training of indigenous people.

Keywords: Characteristic Town; resident benefits; Hangzhou; Zhejiang; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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