Urban scaling in rapidly urbanising China

Weiqian Lei, Limin Jiao, Gang Xu and Zhengzi Zhou
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Weiqian Lei: Wuhan University, China
Limin Jiao: Wuhan University, China
Gang Xu: Wuhan University, China
Zhengzi Zhou: University College London, UK

Urban Studies, 2022, vol. 59, issue 9, 1889-1908

Abstract: Understanding the scaling characteristics in China is critical for perceiving the development process of rapidly urbanising countries. This paper conducts a comprehensive scaling analysis with quantitative assessment of a large number of diverse urban indicators of 275 Chinese cities. Our findings confirm that urban scaling laws can also be applied to rapidly urbanising China but demonstrate some unique features echoing its distinct urbanisation. Chinese urban population agglomeration results in more effective economic production but the economies of scale for infrastructure are less obvious. Some urban indicators associated with infrastructure and living facilities surprisingly scale super-linearly with urban population size, contrary to expected sublinear scaling behaviours. In developing countries, different-sized cities have diverse agglomeration, industrial and resource allocation advantages, which can be reflected by scaling exponents. We characterise these unique features in detail, exploring the spatial disparities and temporal evolution of scaling exponents ( β ). Strong regional variations and differences are particularly pronounced in Northeast China and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration. Scaling exponent variations over time reflect the temporal evolution of the urban system and measure the coordination and balance of urbanisation. Economic output was most efficient in 2009 and β of GDP was slightly greater than 1.15 in recent years. Urban land expansion has been accelerating since 2000 with β remaining around 0.85–0.90. The study of urban scaling in China is enlightening in elaborating the uniqueness and coordination of urban development in rapidly urbanising countries and provides support in formulating differentiated urban planning for different-sized cities to promote coordinated development.

Keywords: agglomeration effects; Chinese urban system; economies of scale; rapidly urbanising country; urban scaling laws; é›†è šæ•ˆåº”; 中国城市体系; è§„æ¨¡ç» æµŽ; 快速城市化国家; 城市规模规律 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:59:y:2022:i:9:p:1889-1908

DOI: 10.1177/00420980211017817

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