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Inward foreign direct investment (FDI) has generally been linked to higher wages, but evidence remains sparse on the overall effects of FDI on average wages, the wage gap between skilled and unskilled labour, and inter‐industry heterogeneity. We address these issues for Mexican municipalities and industries for a period of increasing FDI and sectoral change that saw growing wage inequality. By combining two non‐experimental techniques we find that FDI in Mexico was associated with higher wages, mostly for skilled workers—but also for unskilled ones—and a widening gap between them. Effects vary both between and within industries depending on location, and they either wax or wane when the initial or incremental effects are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular growth of Chinese cities since the 1980s is often theorised as reflecting the advantages of latecomer development (ALD). ALD has been more effective in cosmopolitan, globally accessible coastal cities than outer cities. As leading cities, like Shanghai, close the development gap, the potential for 'easy' ALD growth falls off rapidly. Because institution building is more difficult than firm-based growth, ALD strategies may generate rapid short-term economic growth but not sustainable development. Accordingly, Chongqing municipality, with a population of 33 million, in West China, is pursuing a beyond latecomer advantage model. This is characterised by: (i) reducing poverty and rural-urban disparity through accelerated urbanisation, rural-urban integration and emphasising human resource development; (ii) upgrading the value added of Chongqing's economy through targeting of FDI and incentives to local start-ups; (iii) endogenous development, reducing risks from external shocks; (iv) Hukou reform; (v) establishing a land use conversion certificate market to rationalise land use; (vi) emphasis on morality to address crime/corruption; (vii) recognition of the importance of amenity in attracting investment and talent; and (viii) establishing a longer developmental time perspective. This paper explores this Chongqing model in detail. 摘要 中国自20世纪80年代以来所取得的辉煌经济增长，在很大程度上是基于其引进外资和利用后发优势来实现的。而后发优势的推进，在国际化大都市和那些拥有全球通达性的沿海城市会更为有效。作为先锋性城市，如上海等，随着与全球城市发展的差距日益缩小，'易于'实现后发优势的潜力就会迅速消失，这是因为制度建设要比以企业为基础的经济增长更难推进，因此后发优势或许能带来快速的短期经济增长，但并不能带来当然的可持续发展。有鉴于此，重庆市，这座拥有3300万人口的中国西部城市，正在寻找一条'超越后发优势'的发展道路。这一模式目前正在成长中，表现出如下特征：（1）通过加快城市化进程、城乡融合发展和强调人力资本开发，减少贫困和城乡差别；（2）通过引进外资和刺激本地企业创业，提升重庆市的经济附加值；（3）通过内生性发展，减少外部动荡所引起的风险；（4）通过农村集体土地资产的创新性盘活，有效地进行户籍改革；（5）通过建立土地市场的流转证制度，优化城乡土地的利用效率；（6）通过强调道德建设和反腐倡廉以及强有力的打击犯罪，提升全体市民的向心力和士气；（7）通过强调环境质量在吸引投资和人才方面的重要作用，加快外向型和宜居型城市的发展步伐；（8）通过建立公务员服务质量评价体系，倡导长期发展观，以推进经济社会发展的持续平衡性。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between economic growth and industrial pollution emissions in China using data for 112 major cities between 2001 and 2004. Using disaggregated data, we separate foreign direct investment inflows from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan from those of other foreign economies. We examine two industrial water pollution indicators (wastewater and petroleum-like matter) and four industrial air pollution indicators (waste gas, sulfur dioxide, soot, and dust). Our results suggest that most air and water emissions rise with increases in economic growth at current income levels. The share of output of domestic- and foreign-owned firms increases several pollutants in a statistically significant manner while output of firms from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan either reduces pollution or is statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of global integration, the peri-urban area (PUA) of megacities in Asia has become a favourite destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). This paper uses the PUA of Shanghai as a case study to investigate the impact of global forces on the urban expansion of the city, and the link between urban growth and sustainable development in this mega-urban context. Shanghai has grown impressively during the past two decades in terms of economic and physical transformation. Much of this transformation has rested on the unbridled exploitation of land and other environmental resources in its peri-urban area. This is characterised by the designation of development zones and the concentration of manufacturing FDI, resulting in dispersed growth and environmental degradation. The disruption of the physical environment, combined with the concentration of the urban poor in these areas (in particular ‘temporary migrants’), has turned the PUA into a potential crisis point threatening the social and economic development of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]