From Clustered to Networked: Multi-Dimensional and Multi-Scale Performance Evaluation of Polycentric Urban Structure Evolution in Shenzhen, China

Lipeng Duan, Zhihui Gu (), Yan Zhang and Yongxu Chen
Additional contact information
Lipeng Duan: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Zhihui Gu: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Yan Zhang: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Yongxu Chen: College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-26

Abstract: Polycentric urban structures are increasingly advocated to enhance economic efficiency, promote spatial equity, and support environmental sustainability. However, their roles in shaping urban performance remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding the contributions of clustered and networked patterns to performance across different dimensions and scales. This study adopts a longitudinal framework that distinguishes the evolutionary stages of polycentric urban structures and evaluates multi-dimensional, multi-scale performance, taking Shenzhen, China as a case study. The results show that Shenzhen’s polycentric structure evolved nonlinearly in its clustered pattern and linearly in its networked characteristics, with steady improvements in spatial and economic performance contrasting with the inverted U-shaped trajectory in social performance. Clustered and networked polycentric structures contribute differently: improvements in spatial performance are driven by multiple indicators, major economic indicators (at constant prices) increase with strengthened networked characteristics, and social performance benefits from clustered patterns only when public service provision is coordinated. This research provides new evidence for the co-evolution of polycentric structures and urban performance, suggesting that the effectiveness of polycentric development lies not in choosing between clustered and networked forms, but in strategically integrating them—optimizing scale–distance coordination among centers to enhance the clustered pattern, while differentiating center functions to strengthen networked characteristics.

Keywords: polycentric evolution; clustered; networked; multi-dimensional performance; multi-scale performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/9/1899/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/9/1899/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:9:p:1899-:d:1751674

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().