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What characterizes the ideal urban futures that are envisioned and promulgated within smart city initiatives today? This paper argues for the usefulness of utopia as a lens to examine contemporary urban development projects, specifically smart cities. Drawing on scholars upholding utopianism as key for critical scholarship, the paper explores narratives around smartness in Stockholm, Sweden, and the utopian logics embedded within these narratives. Based on an in-depth case study in Stockholm, the research points to utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability within smart city initiatives. These further point to a common tendency where planning is sought perfected–and believed to approach perfection through the supplantation of human planners by smart technologies. As urban planning is faced with pressing urban challenges and dwindling resources, "mere" brain capacity largely appears as too limited and as necessary to compliment with computerized intelligence. • Using utopia as a lens, this paper explores the smart city initiative in Stockholm and the idealized futures it promotes. • Methodologically, the paper draws on extensive empirical research conducted using "Utopia as Method." • The paper points to "smart Stockholm" being characterized by utopian logics of visibility , predictability and controllability. • Together, these point to a tendency where planning is sought perfected through the integration of computerized intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While people's social backgrounds clearly shape their adoption of digital technology and the Internet, their urban lifestyles and place of residence better explain their digital activities when they are online, and how they use technology. Most studies investigating individuals' use of digitization have neglected the effects of the physical built environment and the daily life of the community. Addressing this gap, this paper places digital practices in the socio-spatial world, and conceptualizes the term "urban digital lifestyle," which refers to the dynamic relationships among three dimensions: (1) the user's socioeconomic status, (2) the user's residency, with a focus on the locale's socio-spatial characteristics, and (3) the user's digital practices. Empirically, this paper uses a mixture of methods to analyze the digital usage of residents in four neighborhoods in Tel Aviv. The methods used are neighborhood prototype analysis, digital practices survey (n = 490), and spatial and GIS analyses. Although the results may at first glance support the argument that education and socioeconomic status have significant influence on digital practices, these practices also reflect many other factors associated with the urban lifestyle. Thus, locales, places and neighborhoods remain crucial socio-spatial categories that have a major influence on daily life in the digital age. • Conceptualization of Urban Digital Lifestyle (UDL) offers a new temporal reading of digital differences in a city. • UDL is a helpful category for juxtaposing user's socioeconomic status, user's digital practices, and locale's sociospatial characteristics. • UDL is a helpful tool to identify (1) types of digital lifestyles, and (2) clustering of these digital lifestyles in geographical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to previous studies by using provincial data, this paper employs city-level data from 260 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2020 to explore the underlying mechanism of how digital inclusive finance promotes the realisation of common prosperity in China. In addition, this paper incorporates financial deepening theory, financial exclusion theory, long tail theory, digital divide theory and technology driven theory to examine the proposed research questions. Through system-GMM and IV estimation, the results show that common prosperity is composed of development, sharing and sustainability. The high level of the weight of the first-level indicators for development and sharing reflects the importance of "prosperity" and "sharing" in common prosperity. Digital inclusive finance plays a significant role in promoting the development of urban common prosperity, with a more pronounced effect in the Eastern cities when compared to the Central and Western cities. In addition, digital inclusive finance is found to promote urban common prosperity by overcoming the digital divide and by improving the activity of urban innovation and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the degree of marketisation is suggested to exert a positive role in regulating the impact of digital inclusive finance on common prosperity. • Common prosperity is composed of development, sharing and sustainability. • Digital inclusive finance plays a significant role in promoting the development of urban common prosperity. • Digital inclusive finance is found to facilitate regional entrepreneurial vitality and, consequently promote urban common prosperity by overcoming the digital divide and by improving the activity of urban innovation and entrepreneurship. • The degree of marketisation is suggested to exert a positive role in regulating the impact of digital inclusive finance on common prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban morphology and spatial forms shape a city's character and user behavior, often embracing a particular type of people and unwelcoming other kinds of gender. City design policies and legislation have favored men since its beginning, affecting overall urban planning and design. While the world is delving into new techniques and methods to empower women, constraints in public space activities remain prevalent. This paper explores the scope of urban design strategies to catalyze women's social and physical inclusion in these spaces. It presents a systematic approach to identifying women's social roles during the use of public spaces and introduces the 'GenUrban: Shaping Cities for All Genders' framework to guide researchers and designers alike promote inclusive urban design and planning. The investigation, in the central area of Hong Kong, focuses on the cultural landscape created by the women-centric 'Foreign Domestic Helpers' community. A desktop literature review, direct observation of public spaces, and in-depth interviews with a focus group of women in the city's heart established and mapped the marginalized users' collective viewpoint and their appropriation of space. The framework can be used by professionals to transform urban spaces through a gender lens to improve the overall quality of public spaces and make them more inclusive and accessible. The paper generates gender-sensitive urban design principles that can be translated for planners to use for various user groups and contexts. When women become key drivers in activating public space, they are given back their right to the city. • Women's traveling patterns are frequent due to their caregiving responsibilities. • The unique cultural landscape of a city creates gender-centered activities. • Integrating gender-specific features ensures urban spaces cater to women's needs. • Reliable public transport is vital for women's mobility and engagement in city life. • A city catering to women tends to accommodate those they care for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, co-production serves as a crucial approach to promote sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation. However, in China, where the governance system is characterized by strong state discourse power and a lack of public participation tradition, neighborhood rehabilitation encounters significant challenges, leading to project postponements or even failures due to unsuccessful co-production activities. To reveal the hidden problems, this paper aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the stakeholders' co-production roles and their participation structure in the co-produced sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation process from multiple dimensions. Using the case in Chongqing, the data was collected through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews. Social network analysis was utilized as the research method, and one-mode and two-mode networks were established to depict six relationship types with using diverse network indicators. This study revealed the high complexity of stakeholder structure, the awkward role of grass-rooted government, the dilemma of public voices and perceptions, uneven involvement in the co-production process, and the dynamic path of co-production formation. Drawing upon co-production theory, this paper elucidates the intricate mechanism of co-produced neighborhood rehabilitation in China. It offers valuable implications for policymakers and urban planners for project promotion, and contributes empirical insights to research in similar governance systems across the global context. • Stakeholder structure in co-produced sustainable neighborhood rehabilitation is highly complex. • Grass-roots government sectors have low discourse power in practice. • Resident-initiated organizations may not always accurately represent the views and interests of in-situ residents. • Uneven involvement of stakeholders can result in a downplayed co-design process and a weak role for investors. • Six network types are interconnected and interdepend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational mobility is considered as an indicator of opportunity equality by interdisciplinary scholars. Recent literature has increasingly focused on international comparisons to unravel the underlying forces shaping disparities in intergenerational mobility. While illuminating, this branch encounters significant challenges stemming from unobserved factors, particularly social norms and values, which threaten the credibility of findings. However, most previous studies do not address such concerns. In this paper, we pay special attentions to the role of social trust in shaping the intergenerational mobility. More specifically, perceived upward mobility is of our top interest because it not only is deemed to be a strong reflection of the real socio-economic distribution, but also directs to individuals' behaviors. Employing a multilevel regression approach, our analysis confirms the positive impact of general trust on perceived upward mobility. The result remains robust across alternative measures and methods. Notably, it mitigates the potential endogeneities by incorporating proxies for individuals' optimistic nature and the instrumental variable strategy. Through further investigations, this paper reveals that the effect of trust differs across regime types, income groups, geography and institutions. Moreover, we identify institutional quality and social interactions as potential mechanisms shaping perceived mobility. Additionally, individuals with upward mobility experiences exhibit reduced preferences for redistribution. This paper contributes to the mobility literature by highlighting the significance of the social norms and values beyond the known factors of perceived intergenerational mobility. It underscores the importance of social trust in intergenerational mobility and advocates for proactive engagement of city practitioners in fostering trust through civic initiatives and community structures. • Ignorance of social trust threats the credibility of mobility estimates. • This paper confirms that trust has a positive effect on intergenerational upward mobility. • The result is robust to alternative measures and instrumental strategy. • Heterogeneities and the potential mechanisms are explored as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the morphologies of Villages-in-the-City (ViCs) in Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam, that are undergoing rapid urbanisation and urban transformation. In China, the term Chengzhongcun refers to development of rural settlements that have been included in the urban districts arising from city expansion. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the phrase Làng trong phố is used to describe settlements in urban areas that used to be rural villages. Both types of settlements share many common characteristics linked to rural background, and to social and economic policies in these two countries. The findings illustrate that spatial transformations are generated by fundamental economic and social changes, and that the influences of land policies and roles played by local government in each country have significant impacts on the formation of the ViCs. Although the planning processes are managed though top-down systems, the diverse practices and small scale and cost-effective tactics contribute to the transitions of the ViCs. The morphological differences between ViCs development in two countries are due to differences in management modes and land use rights. The outcome of this paper contributes to the deeper understanding about similarities and differences of ViCs in the Global South. • This paper examines and compare the morphologies of Villages-in-the-City in Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam. • The diverse practices and small scale tactics contribute to the transition from rural to urban live styles in both places. • The differences between ViCs developments are due to different modes of management and land use rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how local industrial structure changes after bureaucratic transfers across Chinese cities. Utilizing firm-level data within the manufacturing sector, we show a positive and significant effect of transferred local leaders on the industrial similarity between cities connected by them, and this response arises 3 years after the transfers. However, when transferring between cities with notable disparities in resource endowments, local leaders induce diminished industrial similarity among connected cities. Our mechanism analyses then find that, after transferred leaders arrive, new superstar firms are more likely to be attracted to their current jurisdictions and new industries in which their previous jurisdictions have already superstar firms tend to be developed in the current jurisdictions, thus making the industrial structure between the connected cities more similar. Furthermore, we find that transferred local leaders contribute to the synchronization of regional economic growth through facilitating the diffusion of productive capabilities across cities. • This paper examines how local industrial structure changes after bureaucratic transfers across Chinese cities. • Transferred local leaders contributes to a convergence of the industrial structure between the connected cities. • Superstar firms who follow local leaders' movements contribute to the increase of the industrial similarity between connected cities. • Transferred local leaders contribute to the synchronization of regional economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contends that the covid-19 pandemic has reconfigured how cities manage urban marginality within Zimbabwe. The pandemic enabled cities to push everyday mundane practices away from the centre of the city to the margins of the cities through securitisation and criminalising informal activities within the centre. The paper's methodological underpinnings are hinged on a six month ethnography within Bulawayo (Zimbabwe's second largest city). The paper maintains the view that managing urban marginality in the context of covid-19 must be framed within the binary of two opposing forces – governing institutions (the government and municipality) and the low-income residents. Using covid-19 as a pretext of "curbing the pandemic" governing institutions have pushed informal economic activities from the centre through employing law and force; on the other hand low-income residents have found eclectic means to counteract the measures imposed to constrain their agency. Finally, the paper suggests that covid-19 has reconfigured how cities manage urban marginality through pushing everyday informal practices to the periphery and how the low-income residents deploy their agency to counteract confinement hence managing urban marginality can be understood as a two-way process involving governing institutions and the low-income residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration of urban imagery data analysis, driven by computer vision (CV), has created noteworthy opportunities for urban studies and planning. Data on street environments with high granularity derived from geo-tagged street views allow urban researchers to obtain geospatial data on greenery, pavement materials, and dimensions, building facades, urban furniture, lighting, vehicle presence, etc. However, how such attributes have been classified and used to address urban studies, planning, or mobility questions remains relatively poorly understood among non-technical researchers. Targeting urban planning and design researchers who do not have a background in CV, this paper reviews planning-relevant attributes that CV approaches of urban streetscapes have delivered to date and examines some of their research applications. We present a systematic analysis of 146 papers scrutinizing 104 street attributes in four groups. By exploring a subcollection of 24 papers, we discuss the effectiveness of those attributes being incorporated into current quantitative urban studies. This study's primary contribution lies in providing a comprehensive summary of CV-driven street attributes, their applications, and the algorithms used, serving as a valuable resource for future urban research. Additionally, we identify key challenges in this field, such as unclear definitions of attributes, a disproportionate emphasis on selecting models and features, and the absence of standardized measurement and definition methods. Furthermore, we offer recommendations for future research directions in this area. • We review 104 street attributes collected with computer vision in urban studies • We summarize 23 chosen attributes' correlations with known urban design measures • We provide a table of CV-driven street attributes with model details, references, and impacts • We highlight challenges in attribute definitions, research focus, and impact clarity • We provide recommendations for standardizing data and future research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, and as a result of the recent global health pandemic, resilience has become increasingly central to contemporary policy discourses in urban planning and development in both the Global North and Global South. Drawing from ongoing empirical studies of community resilience and everyday practices that have been co-designed and co-produced alongside Brazilian marginalised communities which are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, this paper highlights the growing importance of dialogical stakeholder engagement methodologies in designing alternative urban visions – so-called resilience imaginaries or counter-cities - across the Global South based on social diversity, equity and spatial justice. More specifically, the dialogical participatory mapping approach outlined in this paper utilises citizen science approaches to develop local resilience imaginaries, building on the pedagogical work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and the conceptualisation of dialogue as a comprehensive and progressively unfolding methodological approach. Practically, we adopted a range of community engagement approaches that allowed local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context and embed this tacit knowledge into the operation of civil protection programmes. Our empirical results highlight the potential of such dialogical participatory approaches to capture lay knowledge from local citizens and contribute to the development of enhanced resilience approaches. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of formerly marginalised voices in the advancement of local urban policy and on the novelty and promise of critical pedagogical approaches to co-production within existing regimes of urban governance and the imagining of radically independent counter-cities. • Novel community engagement approaches based on dialogue allow local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context. • The process of geospatial data production can be a transformative moment capable of nurturing enhanced community resilience. • Dialogical participatory mapping is a method for re-imagining future city-visions. • Western resilience scholarship needs learn from emerging resilience building grounded practices in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an urbanized world, the challenges posed by climate change need to be met through innovative planning for cities and regions. Urban resilience demands that cities adopt new models centered on carbon neutrality, ecosystem services and biodiversity enhancement, circularity, and social inclusion. In light of the multiple interdependencies of metropolitan systems and the natural and territorial potentialities present on their fringes, this paper discusses the metropolitan fringes as strategic for urban resilience and sustainable transitions. By combining a mixed-method analysis of adaptation and urban plans with semi-structured interviews performed with key technicians, the analysis is focused on an inter-municipal fringe zone within the Barcelona Metropolitan Area - the Besòs territory. Aiming to contribute to the discussions related to Territorial innovation for cities and regions, the paper offers a multi-scale perspective and illustrates innovative urban transformation strategies across scales. The results highlight that governance and multiple planning and participation instances together with technical and financial support are essential for consensus building in an incremental process. Furthermore, the planning strategies of the case study sought to integrate and enhance the green and blue infrastructures and transform consolidated urban areas with a focus on energy transition, sustainable mobility, circularity, and social inclusion. In conclusion, it is argued that resilience has a multi-scalar perspective within the metropolitan context and should be integrated with planning policies at different scales from a coordinated vision. Although adaptation and urban projects have a critical local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary, especially in metropolitan fringe areas. • Although adaptation and resilience have an essential local element, a broader and more strategic vision is necessary. • Metropolitan planning and governance towards urban resilience must have a multi-scalar perspective. • Metropolitan fringes are key to urban resilience and sustainable transitions due to their environmental and urban attributes. • A coordinated metropolitan vision with technical and financial support is vital for sustainable urban transitions in fringe areas. • The intermediate scale is critical since it represents a bridge between supra-municipal instances and municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges to social, economic, and environmental sustainability are global in scale, yet sustainable development policies must be implemented locally. There has been a tendency for sustainable urbanism projects to engage in the conspicuous sustainability of spatially bounded and highly visible sustainability achievements, rather than spatially expansive, long-term achievements. China's complex system of multilevel governance encourages policy experimentation, but it is also frequently productive of entrepreneurial urbanism and intercity competition. This paper analyses spatial planning documents concerning Hengqin (Zhuhai Municipality, Guangdong Province), an island adjacent to Macao SAR, to show how the ambitions for a new-build district's contributions to sustainable development have become more spatially expansive and ambitious over time. This has occurred alongside changes in project leadership (from city, to provincial, to central government leadership) as well as a deepening awareness of the Greater Bay Area as a region for crossborder policymaking. The paper argues that crossborder perspectives are vital for genuine sustainable development but face certain obstacles in relation to the sites at which policy decisions are made. • Policymakers often prefer conspicuous sustainability to long-term achievements. • Innovative urban entrepreneurialism is common in China's multilevel governance. • Hengqin's spatial planning initially prioritised immediate, localised results. • Centralised leadership and regional awareness can raise sustainability ambitions. • Crossborder perspectives better reflect sustainable development needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to investigate the empirical correlations between inter-city population distribution, intra-city urban economic structures, and networked inter-city relationships to propose a conceptual classification framework for the Australian urban system. This paper sets the pre-COVID-19 benchmark for future research which will investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economic geography of the Australian urban system. This research confirms that the form of Australia's urban structure is informed by a combination of population distribution, economic concentration, specialisation and diversity of industries and occupations, and networks between cities. Based on these results, we propose an urban structure framework characterised by hierarchical sub-systems and typologies of cities. The framework consists of standalone regional centres and larger cities which form a networked megaregion. Additionally, we propose five typologies of cities based on their functional roles. The Australian urban system presents a unique hybrid economic geography where its structure of networked megaregions of cities and standalone regional centres each with its complementary functional roles, presents itself an interesting case study to inform population policies for other geographies. • This study proposes a method to synthesise city size, economic structure and their networked relationships. • Principles of economic agglomeration mostly apply within the Australian context however, there are nuances and exceptions. • Proximity has a role to play when determining the economic roles of cities and the strength of interactions between cities. • Two urban sub-systems exist in Australia: standalone regional centres and megaregions. • Five city types in Australia which considers their size, economic structure and geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of urbanization dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau through the lens of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), addressing a research gap in the understanding of urbanism in highland and global south contexts. Given the current surge of assembly-based thinking within urban scholarship, we employ an assemblage framework to comprehend the heterogeneous constitution of urbanization, integrating human and non-human components, as well as socio-material, political, and spatial governances. Through a meticulous examination of three comprehensive case studies from the Tibetan Plateau SEZs, including a state-led new town, a renewable energy-driven industrial zone, and an industrial enclave, we delineate the diverse forms of plateau urbanism. Our findings underscore the imperative for contextually tailored urban development strategies that consider the distinctive geographical, ecological, and socio-political conditions of the Tibetan Plateau. It emphasizes the need for adaptive governance and planning that can address infrastructure deficiencies, environmental constraints, and the integration of local communities. Furthermore, we also call for further exploration of urbanisms in other highland regions, advocating for a more longitudinal, crosswise and nuanced understanding of urbanization processes in various global contexts. • Plateau urbanism as an assemblage of diverse plateau material and immaterial urbanization forces. • We aim to explore the interactions of various actors, diverse dynamics of spatial logics, and multifaceted spatial modes that underlie the ongoing territorial transformation of the plateau cities. • We pioneeringly applies assemblage thinking to conceptualize and empirically investigate plateau urbanism on China's Tibetan Plateau. • The study presents a comprehensive examination of three distinct Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on the Tibetan Plateau. • The paper advocates for a more inclusive and nuanced approach to urbanization processes in the lens of assemblage thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses urban walking during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as an object of urban planning in Helsinki. The paper investigates planners' experiences of planning for temporary spatial solutions during a time of exceptionality in urban life. The paper is motivated by the wish to determine the influence of residents' environmental critique on official urban planning processes. Analysis is primarily based on walk-along interviews with urban planners and residents in the densest eastern downtown neighbourhoods of Helsinki. Supplemental data, including a survey, chat group discussions and planning documents, are used to deepen analysis. Results discuss the politicisation of planning and the delicate relationship between public planners and the political steering of planning in a Nordic welfare planning system. The paper discusses how the politicisation of planning imposes barriers to participatory planning by tying planners' time and attention to organisational tensions, but also by not being able to direct public attention to contentious planning topics. To analyse the role of planners in advocating for pedestrian planning and citizen participation, the study incorporates concepts from organisational communication and urban governance: tensions, rational ignorance and guerrilla governance. • Temporary pedestrian planning in Helsinki became a politicised planning topic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. • An approach of rapid qualitative research utilised multi-method data gathering. • Urban planners experienced tensions in planning which impeded participatory planning processes. • Residents themselves portrayed rational ignorance and scepticism towards their participatory agency. • Planners used hidden tactics of guerrilla governance to advance the pedestrian agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the role of informality in the spatial and institutional development of post-colonial cities. The study uses a historical institutionalist approach to trace the historical evolution of Morocco's Fes and Oujda as two former French colonies. It analyzes the historical urban growth of both cities through archival research, policy analysis, and complements its findings with semi-structured interviews. This study explores the different interactions between formal policies and the informal spatial and institutional urban practices, and discusses the processes of incremental institutional change that informal institutions introduce and sustain without disrupting the status-quo. This paper argues that in post-colonial contexts, informality prevails over formality as a stronger feedback mechanism to path dependence. Finally, the paper makes the case for the importance of mapping informal practices within and in relation to formal planning institutional structures for more comprehensive understandings of the role and the impact of spatial planning as a practice. • Urban informality guides urban development in Morocco. • Institutional informality is very visible as a mode of planning governance in Morocco. • Formalized institutional actors often engage in informal planning practices. • Conceptualizing the link between formality and informality can inform post-colonial spatial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its significant implications for the economy and society, this paper investigates the impact of housing supply regulation on household wealth inequality. Utilizing data from the China Household Finance Survey and land transaction records spanning from 2013 to 2019, we employ recentered influence function regression and two-way fixed effects models to analyze the effect of unexpected housing supply shocks on the wealth gap among households. Our findings reveal that positive unexpected housing supply shocks are crucial in reducing household wealth inequality. This reduction is attributed to the heterogeneous impacts of housing supply regulation on different wealth groups. By deregulating the housing supply, the upward trend in housing prices has slowed, which in turn makes homeownership more accessible and facilitates wealth accumulation for households that fall within the 20 % and 80 % wealth quantiles. Conversely, deregulation has a negative impact on property values for households in the 80–100 % wealth quantile, thus mitigating their overall wealth growth. Overall, this study emphasizes the significant role of housing supply regulation in shaping wealth inequality in China. • This paper examines the housing supply regulation's impact on wealth inequality in China. • Positive housing supply shocks play a vital role in decreasing household wealth inequality. • Deregulation boosts homeownership for 20 %–80 % wealth quantile households. • Wealthiest households face property value drops with deregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, urban shrinkage, as one of the phenomena revealed in the process of new urbanisation development in China, has gradually attracted the attention of many scholars. To address the question of whether urban shrinkage has an impact on the level of local basic public services supply, this paper uses panel data from 298 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2018 to empirically analyse the impact of urban shrinkage on the level of basic public services supply by dividing shrinking cities into different regions and dividing basic public services into different dimensions. The results show that the impact of urban shrinkage on the supply level of basic public services is an 'inverted U-shaped' non-linear process that first promotes and then inhibits the level of basic public services supply; the impact of urban shrinkage on various dimensions of the level of basic public services supply varies, and generally shows a positive and then negative trend. Regarding regional heterogeneity, urban shrinkage has a more significant negative impact on the central region's basic public services supply level, followed by the western region and, to a lesser extent, the northeastern region. Therefore, local governments should make Smart Shrinkage according to local conditions, improve the basic public services supply system to enhance residents' happiness and satisfaction, introduce corresponding policies for the introduction of talents and focus on employee training and education activities to achieve the goal of equalising of basic public services supply in China. This research could also provide identification methods and improvement measures for other countries and regions just beginning to face the shrinking problem, especially those with high population densities and tight urban connectivity, such as China's cities. • Urban shrinkage, as one of the phenomena revealed in the process of new urbanisation development in China, has gradually attracted the attention of many scholars. To address the question of whether urban shrinkage has an impact on the level of local basic public services supply, this paper uses panel data from 298 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2018 to empirically analyse the impact of urban shrinkage on the level of basic public services supply by dividing shrinking cities into different regions and dividing basic public services into different dimensions. • This research could also provide identification methods and improvement measures for other countries and regions just beginning to face the shrinking problem, especially those with high population densities and tight urban connectivity, such as China's cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas encompass essential social functions that are fundamental for the development and quality of life. This research explores why the concept of the 15-minute city, while commendable in its aspirations, might fall short in effectively mitigating urban inequalities, especially within densely populated and segregated developing cities. Using Bogotá (Colombia) as a case study, this paper advocates and develops a standardized index based on the availability of essential urban functions within a 15-minute walking distance. This index also integrates individual preferences, geographical attributes, and the quality of pedestrian infrastructure. Doing so provides a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing proximity, accommodating the diverse needs of various social identities. Considering individual preferences towards proximity is critical to comprehend the determinants of accessibility, encompassing the relevance of sociodemographic characteristics. Although several urban areas worldwide may meet the broad interpretation of the 15-minute city concept, our research reveals significant disparities among population segments regarding access to urban services and their prioritization. Our case study found that grocery stores and healthcare facilities hold paramount importance across all population segments. Furthermore, wealthy segments exhibit a heightened preference for retail shops and commercial services. In contrast, the low-income population has a considerably greater preference for healthcare facilities. This study aims to cast light upon structural disparities inherent in urban areas, thereby unveiling inequalities in the 15-minute city concept's capacity to diagnose and mitigate urban inequalities. The promotion of a more all-encompassing and inclusive measurement approach is posited as a contribution to the advancement of our comprehension and the effective implementation of the 15-minute city concept across heterogeneous urban landscapes. • This paper advocates for the development of a standardized index based on urban functions within a 15-minute walking distance. • The 15-minute city concept must include, besides proximity to opportunities, the quality of pedestrian infrastructure. • The index integrates individual preferences to understand the determinants of proximity, including sociodemographic attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban areas are increasingly adopting the tool of urban food policies (UFPs) to address food-related challenges, especially for a sustainable transition of their food systems (FS). Indeed, FS were assessed to have a great environmental impact, and cities are recognized as privileged actors to address this challenge. More recently, the problem of justice in such transition was raised. One dimension of vulnerability proven to crosscut all FS stages, and to increase exposure to climate change effects, is gender. However, literature on just food transition and UFPs does not seem to always consider this dimension of potential vulnerability. This paper firstly elaborates on the concept of "just food transition" (JFT), then presents relevant literature on gender differences in FS to argue that interventions aimed at JFT should apply gender mainstreaming. Later, it analyzes twenty relevant cases of UFPs to assess whether they consider gender differences, with the aim of demonstrating that, although theory seems to prove its relevance, a gender mainstreaming approach is still widely lacking from policy practice and rather some policies risk to reinforce existing gender stereotypes related to the FS. The paper ends with conclusions and suggestions for further research. • Gender differences have been proven to exist throughout all stages of the food system. • Just food transition literature tends to overlook implications of gender differences. • A gender mainstreaming approach is widely lacking from urban food policies. • The urban food policies of Zaragoza and Barcelona are innovative in their attention to gender differences in urban matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While economic geographers have studied cities and regions as the locus of innovation and entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, the role of the local context in coordinating knowledge development and collaborative relations towards sustainable and circular fashion has yet to be examined in depth. Simultaneously, while circular economy literature has emphasized the importance of inter-organizational collaborations for driving transitions towards the circular economy, how these relational processes could take place at the local scale deserves further attention, especially for sectors such as the fashion industry that have developed complex and fragmented global value chain relationships. This paper aims to bridge these knowledge gaps by applying the concept of proximity relations to understanding how fashion industry stakeholders coordinate interactions and collaborations in advancing circular fashion initiatives. Proximity dimensions as developed in innovation and economic geography studies serve as a useful conceptual lens to examine both the spatial and non-spatial forms of stakeholder interactions, thereby highlighting both the local and global scales of coordination in circular fashion initiatives. This paper conducts a systematic literature review on circular fashion, through which a content analysis of proximity relations is performed. The analysis illustrates both the geographical and non-geographical proximity dimensions that matter in coordinating resource flows across the production, consumption, and end-of-life phases to narrow, slow, and close resource flows in fashion. Furthermore, various intermediary organizations support coordination at both the local and global scales. Understanding the various dimensions of proximity relations in circular fashion provides nuanced policy implications for cities and regions on ways to foster both local and global collaborations in making fashion circular. • A systematic literature review on circular fashion is conducted to understand proximity relations in circular fashion. • Geographical and non-geographical proximity dimensions across lifecycle in circular fashion get highlighted. • Findings offer insights for cities and regions to facilitate circular fashion initiatives at local and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Private transport constitutes the prerequisite for the freedom of mobility and facilitates accessibility for activities of older adults. Abundant studies have been conducted on the association between car ownership and life satisfaction in Western countries where cars dominate private transport. However, as the most prevalent and conventional private transport in China, cars and e-bikes have not received adequate attention. Using 2015 and 2018 datasets from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we apply the Propensity Score Matching–Difference in Differences to investigate how private transport influences the multi-dimensional life quality of older adults. Furthermore, we focus on the mediation effect of social participation on the above causal effect. Our findings reveal that car and e-bike ownership have a causal impact on older adults' life satisfaction, while the influence of e-bike ownership is multi-dimensional. The relationship between car ownership and life satisfaction is mediated by social participation regarding exercise and voluntary activities. However, the mediation effects of mahjong and exercise activities are statistically significant between e-bike ownership and the multi-dimensional life quality of older adults. Understanding the life quality of older adults related to private transport is essential for guiding travel mobility and the life quality of older adults in China. • The paper reveals the causal effect of private transport on multi-dimensional life quality among older adults, including life satisfaction, happiness, loneliness, and depression. • The paper explores the mediation effect of social participation on the relationship between car/e-bike ownership and multi-dimensional life quality. • Using 2015 and 2018 datasets from the CHARLS, the methods of Propensity Score Matching–Difference in Differences and Mediation Analysis are applied in the study. • The results show that both car and e-bike ownership have causal effects on the life satisfaction of older adults, while the influence of e-bike ownership is multi-dimensional. • Participation in mahjong activity mediated the relationship between e-bike ownership and the life quality of older adults, while not for car ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines three levels of digital inequality, access, use, and outcomes, within a major U.S. city. The Resources and Appropriation (RA) Theory is used to explain the digital divide within a city. Using paper and electronic surveys in English and Spanish, the researchers conducted a city-wide survey to examine all three levels of digital inequality. The research methods were descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Findings include that the digital divide persists at all three levels, with older respondents. Furthermore, geographical residential location, income level, and educational attainment emerged as significant predictors of digital inequality. Findings not normally found in the digital divide literature are that geography and limited English proficiency significantly impacted internet use and outcomes. These findings contribute to our understanding of the digital divide within a large urban area and shed light on how inequalities manifest across different regions of the city. The study also highlights the persistent presence of digital inequality in various low-income communities within the city, underscoring the need for further research on the community level. • Three levels of digital inequality in access, use, and outcomes are examined. • Findings include that the digital divide persists at all three levels. • Residential location, income level, and educational attainment predictors of digital inequality. • Geography and limited English proficiency significantly impacted internet use and outcomes. • These findings contribute to understanding the digital divide within a large urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As resilience planning gains prominence in urban sustainable development, green infrastructures (GIs) are widely recognized as effective solutions to address climate risks and environmental challenges. While urban greening initiatives have multiple benefits, they can also lead to unintended consequences such as environmental injustice, increasing property values, and the displacement and gentrification of vulnerable residents in the affected areas. While gentrification remains a significant concern for urban sustainability initiatives that aim to promote environmental justice, a consensus upon approaches and methods for precisely identifying communities undergoing gentrification is still lacking. While most of the existing research studies focused on examining the relationship between GIs and gentrification, little-to-no research was conducted to quantify the green gentrification vulnerability of different communities. To this end, and to bridge this knowledge gap, this paper proposes and develops a novel index called the green gentrification vulnerability index (GGVI). First, an extensive list of 35 indicators that contribute to green gentrification was identified and grouped into 7 categories: economic, social, housing, household, demographic, amenities, and GIs. Second, data were gathered on the 35 indicators for all the 2325 census tracts across New York City (NYC) in the US. Third, the data were preprocessed to ensure their suitability for implementing Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Fourth, PCA was implemented for each of the 7 categories separately to weight their respective green gentrification indicators and calculate vulnerability scores. Finally, these vulnerability scores were used to develop the GGVI. The research findings provided insights on the importance of the 35 indicators as well as the 7 green gentrification-related vulnerability categories in relation to their contribution to the GGVI. The 7 categories were ranked as follows: amenities, GIs, economic, demographic, social, housing, and households. In addition, proximity to parks, frequency of parks, proximity to GIs, and total area of parks were found to be the most important GIs-related indicators that could lead to green gentrification. Overall, this paper contributes to the growing body of research that addresses green gentrification by being the first study that proposes and develops a GGVI that can be used to identify at-risk communities from green gentrification and ultimately help practitioners, urban planners, decision-makers, and researchers in developing new policies and strategies aimed to mitigate the unintended consequences of green gentrification (i.e., displacement of vulnerable communities) and promote environmental justice and urban sustainability. • Green gentrification vulnerability was studied based on 35 indicators. • The importance of the different indicators was determined. • Principal Component Analysis was used to develop a GGVI. • The proposed index allows census-track green gentrification vulnerability analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the urban character of Chinatown districts around the world, as a key example of an urban ethnic enclave, focusing on four large Chinatowns in San Francisco, Yokohama, Melbourne and Sydney. It advances knowledge about the spatial elements that define urban districts, a concept pioneered by Kevin Lynch. Existing literature on Chinatowns primarily explores the historically changing relationships between their Chinese migrant communities and their host cities, or the visual and physical character of individual cases. This paper develops new insights into how the built forms of these urban districts are similar to or different from their surroundings and from each other. It employs a methodology that combines space syntax analysis of street networks, morphological analysis of built form, land-use analysis, and mapping of visual character from street level. It examines the Chinatown districts' spatial extents in terms of contrasts between their spatial attributes and their wider urban surroundings. The findings develop a new taxonomy of Chinatowns based on their urban spatial characteristics. • Develops new methods to map and analyse the spatial character of urban districts • Compares Chinatowns' built form and street networks to their urban surroundings • Analyses Chinatowns' varying accessibility within the overall urban street network • Reveals how contemporary Chinatowns extend beyond their traditional boundaries • Compares four case study cities to identify a new spatial taxonomy of Chinatowns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When relating to build environments, porosity refers to soft transitions across geographies and to the interpenetration between spaces of a different character. While its importance is recognised, its absence in post-modern urban fabrics has become evident. Therefore, this paper's primary objective is to contribute to the resettling of porosity in its various dimensions. To that end, it questions the circumstances that led to the erosion of porosity in urban environments and how that erosion is visible. To answer, the paper (1) establishes concepts for urban and architectural porosity, the criteria that determine each of those and parameters to evaluate it; (2) revisits modernist principles, indicating those that contradicted porosity; and (3) demonstrates how porosity evolved through a comparative of five Lisbon neighbourhoods. The study attests that the implementation of ideas from the modernist movement resulted in a radical loss of porosity, concluding that, in maintaining modernist principles, Portuguese regulation keeps encouraging impermeable cityscapes. The research withdraws the term porosity from ambiguity. And presents concepts, criteria and evaluation parameters that are applicable in various contexts. Through an understanding of the problem, it also points towards a solution, highlighting the need for a further investigation to improve legal frameworks. • A porous built environment depends on porosity at two scales: urban and architectural. • Urban porosity refers to the easy flow of people across geographies, being related with continuous urban fabrics. • Architectural porosity refers to the gradual transition between spaces of different characters (e.g. between inside and outside, between privade and public) resulting in the natural appropriation of places. • Together, urban and architectural porosity contribute to walkability and increased informal contacts, resulting in better health outcomes, stronger communities and vivid streets. • Current regulation is still trapped in modernists principles that promoted abrupt transitions, segregation and the fragmentation of cities encouraging unporous urban environments; and should, therefore, be amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative, a pioneering approach initiated by India to propel sustainable urban development through targeted behavioural change. Positioned at the nexus of individual action and urban sustainability, LiFE underscores the potential of integrating lifestyle adjustments into the broader urban planning and policy-making framework. By examining the initiative's evolution from a grassroots movement to a key element of government policy, this paper highlights its innovative strategies aimed at promoting eco-friendly living and its significant impact on urban environments. Through case studies and an analysis of the initiative's alignment with global sustainability goals, we reveal how LiFE complements existing urban agendas by focusing on the micro-level actions of individuals and communities. This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urbanization by showcasing the critical role of behavioural change in achieving urban sustainability goals, thereby offering insights into the formulation of more holistic and effective urban policies. Significantly the paper articulates how LiFE's principles, through enhancing global policies and harnessing the power of technological advancements within the Smart Cities agenda, herald a new paradigm in urban sustainability efforts. • The LiFE initiative emphasizes individual behavioral changes over infrastructural reforms to promote urban sustainability. • The concept originated as a grassroots movement in India and has evolved into a significant element of governmental policy on environmental sustainability. • Case studies, such as the eco-village of Piplantri, demonstrate how individual and community actions can significantly contribute to sustainability goals. • LiFE strategically complements Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) and the New Urban Agenda by focusing on micro-level actions that bridge the gap between policy intentions and tangible outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the response of Athens, Greece, to the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to its un(der)documented immigrant populations. It argues that both the national and local levels of governance exhibited a "paradigmatic pragmatism" in their approach to the crisis. The study employs an interpretivist lens and utilises qualitative in-depth interviews and document reviews. By examining Athens as a case study, the paper highlights the significance of the urban scale in migration policies, emphasising the role of governance models, past migration experiences, and civil society. The development of a parallel vaccination program for un(der)documented immigrants is examined as a notable example of the pragmatism of both governance levels and local citizenship practice. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of local-level immigrant policies and the role of cities in the context of citizenship politics. By drawing lessons from major crises like the pandemic, it aims to inform the development of more inclusive migrant policies and effective governance structures while promoting new perspectives on membership, such as local citizenship. • Analysing Athens' pandemic response for local-level immigrant policy insights. • The vaccination program for the un(der)documented as an exemplification of local citizenship • Athens' case reveals the significance of the urban scale in migration policies. • Governance models, local experiences and civil society shaped Athens' response. • Both national and local levels showcased a 'paradigmatic pragmatist' attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a conceptual framework of plant closures embedded in evolutionary economic geography and geographic political economy. The evolution of institutional environments affects actors' adaptive capacity and influences economies' path development. As a path advocate, the media engages in institutional entrepreneurship. To examine the media's role, the paper conducts a media analysis of 1157 news articles from 2000 to 2019 on plant closures in Ontario, Canada. The analysis illustrates the narratives the media provides regarding closures and how these lead to different industrial policy prescriptions. Policy implications point to the need for technologically upgrading firms and re-training programs for workers in traditional industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the problem of evictions in Italy, focusing on their quantitative dimension on a national and regional level, from the 1980s to the present. In line with many western European countries, particularly those in southern Europe, Italy has historically emphasised homeownership as the central pillar of its housing policy, relegating tenants' housing problems to the background. In an attempt to shed light on tenants' housing hardship, the analysis addresses evictions as one of their most pressing problems, according to the following research questions: Why is the phenomenon of evictions under-investigated in Italy? What is the current scenario of evictions in Italy and what public policies are in place to tackle them? The paper points out the high rate of evictions in Italy compared to other European countries, the increase in evictions for arrears and the inadequate use of public resources allocated to answer the problem. The proposed analysis advocate for reframing evictions as a pressing social issue with far-reaching political implications. This study is a first contribution to a broader research agenda on evictions in Italy. • The lack of macro-level analysis of evictions is a serious gap in the understanding of the housing problem in Italy; • The paper argues that macro-analysis is essential to frame evictions as a social and political issue, rather than an individual failure; • The analysis shows that evictions for arrears have increased throughout Italy and that support for tenants is needed; • It highlights the need to counterbalance the policy bias towards home ownership by reshaping the rental market; [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent and mechanisms of the influence of cultural factors on China's population flow have yet to be fully revealed compared to the influence of other factors, such as the level of socioeconomic development. From a network perspective, this paper examines the influence of cultural ties represented by dialect similarity on the tie formation and strength of China's population flow networks. The results are as follows: during the Spring Festival travel rush, dialect similarity increases the probability of tie formation but doesn't influence the strength of ties in China's population flow networks in 2019; however, dialect similarity hinders the tie formation and the increase in the flow intensity in the change of China's population flow networks from 2019 to 2022. During the daily period, more similar dialects between the two cities increase the likelihood of forming network ties and exhibiting stronger levels of population flow in 2019; dialect similarity significantly facilitates tie formation, but it does not affect the flow intensity in the change of China's population flow networks from 2019 to 2022. The results reveal the different influencing effects of dialect similarity in different periods, which is important for revealing the influence mechanism of cultural ties on population flow. • This paper examines the influence of cultural ties on the population flow networks in China in 2019–2022. • The dialect similarity represents the cultural ties. • Binary and valued exponential random graph model (ERGM) and stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM) are applied. • Cultural ties have different influences on the population flow networks and their changes during different periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate land valuation is necessary for tax purposes, land resources allocation, real estate management and urban development and planning. Since various factors from different domains affect land prices through non-linear relationships, automating the land valuation process on a large scale is a complex task. Advanced technologies in big data analysis and artificial intelligence have demonstrated superior capabilities in knowledge extraction in such cases. Accordingly, this paper develops and compares the performance of four Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) based on machine learning and deep learning techniques utilizing physical, geographical, socio-economic, environmental, legal and planning factors in Melbourne Metropolitan, Australia. According to the results, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method outperforms other algorithms of Support Vector Regression (SVR), random forest and Deep Neural Network (DNN). This method has achieved the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.862, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.139, and normalized Root Mean Square Error (nRMSE) of 0.281. The achieved high accuracy is due to incorporating a wide range of driving factors and applying innovative feature selection and hyperparameter tuning procedures evaluating various possible feature sets and hyperparameters. Accordingly, this paper can contribute to research, governmental and industry-based activities in terms of developing AVMs for mass land valuation. • Automated land valuation models using machine learning and deep learning • Comprehensive feature set and hybrid feature selection process for robust model performance • Spatial mapping of land values in large urban areas • Contribution to fair housing policies and urban development by accurate land valuation • Practical insights for housing affordability strategies in terms of land management [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's urbanization process accelerates, the social integration of its mobile population has attracted increasing attention from researchers. Social participation is crucial for gauging social integration, with group identity and social exclusion as push and pull forces. However, existing studies have predominantly focused on qualitative and regional analyses, failing to capture the broader picture of the mobile population's social participation. The study utilizes data from 169,989 respondents in the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS 2017), integrating group identity and social exclusion concepts into a unified analytical framework. It examines their effects on the social participation of the mobile population and tests their interaction between these factors. These findings reveal that group identity significantly enhances social participation. Conversely, social exclusion hinders it. Moreover, group identity and social exclusion interact significantly, affecting social participation. A strong group identity can mitigate the adverse effects of social exclusion, which can diminish the positive impact of group identity. Additionally, the study uncovers intergenerational, working distances, and social strata variations in the effects of group identity and social exclusion on social participation. • First, this study explores the social integration of migrants in China, offering additional research insights. • Second, existing research on migrants' social integration, identity recognition, and social exclusion predominantly utilizes qualitative, regional approaches, lacking empirical analysis leveraging large datasets. This paper aims to fill this methodological gap. • Third, this paper introduces a comprehensive framework that amalgamates group identity and social exclusion to assess social integration and participation. • Enhancing the research framework, the study adopts the "push-pull" dynamic between group identity and social exclusion as its analytical lens. Employing a dataset of 1,699,899 migrant samples, it conducts an empirical analysis to investigate the effects of group identity and social exclusion on social participation among Chinese migrants, including examining their interactive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1969 Thomas C. Schelling published his paper "Models of Segregation" and in 1971 he published a follow-up paper introducing "Dynamic Models of Segregation". Schelling's papers developed the theoretical models of interactive dynamics of individual residential choices, resulting in pronounced patterns of residential segregation at the city level. Even after 50+ years, the topic of residential segregation and sorting remains as relevant as when Schelling published his papers. The two Schelling papers have been cited more than 8000 times together, and have made a strong impact on the residential segregation literature and beyond. In this paper, we examine how Schelling's ideas have impacted empirical research on residential segregation, and thus contributed to a greater understanding of urban processes. We find that few empirical papers explicitly test the Schelling models in residential segregation studies, and there are a growing number of influential papers in the field of segregation that do not reference Schelling. However, the papers by Schelling have served as a source of inspiration for a diverse set of empirical studies, new ways of defining neighbourhoods and developing more comprehensive theories of segregation. • Schelling's models are an inspiration for research, not the subject of empirical testing. • Schelling's models are simple and straightforward, but their testing is complicated. • The full model has never been tested empirically using real population data. • The literature that examines parts of the models generally validate them. • New research explores segregation longitudinally and in spaces shaped by digital transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ease of mobility within a city is one of the essential aspects of urban planning. Quality of pedestrian mobility is the key to attain liveability and inclusivity in a city. However, the gender lens towards understanding the mobility patterns of women and young girls is largely missing from the urban planning process. Due to this exclusion, the majority of Indian cities are not gender friendly. To address this issue, this study tried to propose a 3 step framework for mitigating gender safety issues while a woman walks in a city. The 3 steps involve identifying the key elements of pedestrian mobility; quantitatively evaluating the qualitative parameters; and visual analysis for validating the major issues. This paper presents a pilot study conducted in the city of Kanpur, India. The research was initiated by conducting focus group discussions among 23 participants to map their typical movement patterns and identify 6 key elements of pedestrian mobility. Subsequently, the study conducted a net promoter score (NPS) survey among 423 participants to gauge the safety perception levels on each of the 6 key elements against 5 deduced qualitative parameters via literature review. NPS is a user satisfaction measurement tool which is based on the user perception used by companies and brands. Since urban safety is largely to do with perception, a NPS metric is employed. Further, the paper employed heatmap analysis and derived 3 critical areas based on gender safety perception to deep dive i.e. accessibility and lighting at sidewalks; lack of lighting at underpass; and absence of street furniture at bus stops. Visual analysis was undertaken to understand and validate the respective safety perceptions. The NPS score and visual analysis helped to generate actionable recommendations to enhance the safety perception of women in the city, especially pertaining to pedestrian mobility. • Mobility and pedestrian movement pattern helps to identify gaps in gender sensitive urban planning. • Net Promoter Score (NPS) can also be applied to gauge the safety perception levels in urban areas. • Etic and emic visual analysis can help in diagnosing the issues better than armchair research. • Gender concerns in urban areas can be dealt both qualitatively and quantitatively using mixed methods. • Participatory approach is key to attain social sustainability in urban areas wrt gender safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon lock-in has become a major obstacle to green development in all countries, and carbon unlocking (CUL) is of great significance in accelerating the process of carbon neutrality worldwide. Based on the panel data of 292 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2020, this paper constructs a PSM-DID model based on machine learning to empirically test the impact of LCCP policy on urban CUL. The regression result shows that the low carbon city pilot (LCCP) policy significantly increases the level of CUL by 1.25 % in the pilot cities, which is still valid after range of robustness tests, and the mechanism analysis shows that green innovation and green habits are important ways for the policy to affect CUL. Based on the generalized random forest (GRF) algorithm, we further find that the policy can increase the CUL level by 0.6 %, and the average treatment effect (ATE) of the sample is concentrated between 0.004 and 0.006, which exhibits obvious heterogeneity. This paper chooses population quality, openness level and industrial structure as heterogeneous factors, which are finally found to have a U-shaped or inverted U-shaped relationship with ATE. This study provides useful insights for China and other countries to break the carbon lock-in and realize green development. • Low-carbon city pilot policy can effectively promote urban carbon unlocking. • Causal forest model is used for causal inference based on generalized random forests algorithm. • The propensity score is calculated by machine learning. • Generalized random forest is used for heterogeneity analysis. • Low-carbon city pilot policy transmits policy effects through green innovation and green habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the evolution of the urban spatial structure is of great significance for clarifying the stage and trajectory of urban development and formulating future urban development plans. Given that previous studies have marginally explored the long-term evolution of the urban employment spatial structure, this paper proposes a theoretical model hypothesizing five sequential stages of a complete evolution cycle from the perspective of mono- and polycentricity: mono-centralization, main-centralization, multi-centralization, de-centralization and re-centralization. Further empirical results based on 292 prefecture-level cities in China from 1997 to 2017 support the model and demonstrate that most cities present an evolution in line with the hypothesis, except a few cities experiencing short-term fluctuations, and approximately 60 % of cities are in the stage of multi-centralization, where subcenters have a growth advantage, and the main center has a scale advantage. Additionally, this paper reveals two characteristics of the evolution of the urban employment spatial structure in China: spatiotemporal compression and government intervention. • Propose a theoretical evolutionary model of urban employment spatial structure. • Empirically test the theoretical model based on a sample of 292 prefecture-level cities in China from 1997-2017. • The evolution of the urban employment spatial structure in China gradually tends to be polycentric. • Spatiotemporal compression and government intervention are features of China's urban employment spatial structure evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of modal disparity studies focus on accessibility to jobs and to non-work activities with little attention paid to actual commuting behavior. How modal differences in commuting behavior change when set against the minimum and maximum commutes possible within a fixed urban structure is much less known. In commuting efficiency studies, the mode of commuting flows has not been intersected with socio-economic characteristics. Using the 2015 1 % National Population Sample Survey (NPSS) in Shanghai, we apply the excess commuting framework to fill this research gap by measuring the modal disparity between public transport and cars, in commuting efficiency by education level of workers. Results show that public transport users are less efficient commuters than car users, indicating great capacity exists for optimizing public transportation. However, the modal disparity decreases with increasing educational attainment, because car commuting efficiency is decreasing at a faster rate than for public transport. Based on these findings, urban transportation policy should focus on improving jobs-housing balance of public transport, and building a friendly green travel environment to rectify car-oriented bias in urban spatial structure and narrow the difference between public transport users and car users, especially for the poorly-educated. • This paper is the result of an international collaboration between three authors who have worked extensively on topics related to commuting. • The paper examines aspects of the demographics and transportation interactions in Shanghai. • A very notable finding is the overwhelming mode share in public transport for the least educated workers. • The paper shows the importance of heterogeneity of socioeconomic characteristics in estimating excess commuting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uncovers the most important factors causing institutional inertia in the water management sector related to flood control in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States Gulf Coast region. The gradual modifications in water management systems, structures, and institutions are increasingly associated with the concept of institutional inertia, which serves as a valuable perspective for understanding resistance to change. New Orleans was chosen as a case study due to its history of catastrophic flooding events, vulnerability to climate change, extensive subsidence and reliance on hard infrastructure solutions to water management. Through a process tracing method, this paper illuminates the phenomenon of critical junctures in the period of study for New Orleans (1893-present) to understand their causes, results, and path-dependent legacies. The main findings are that some key contributing factors (i.e. costs, uncertainty, path dependence, power and legitimacy, and complexity) did promote institutional inertia in the New Orleans water management sector related to flood control. In addition, the paper sheds lights on the critical junctures that largely have failed to break the flood resistance paradigm that has dominated New Orleans water management since the system's inception. The application of institutional inertia and critical juncture lenses in New Orleans is novel, making it particularly relevant for water management institutions and flood control practices. • New Orleans illustrates how potential transformative periods have failed to engender paradigmatic and systemic shifts. • All five factors depicted as contributors to institutional inertia exert an influence with different levels of significance. • Some variables (i.e., path dependence) are more strongly related to institutional inertia than others (i.e., uncertainty). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financialisation of rental housing (FRH) has been recognised as a major force behind neighbourhood change and a threat to the right to adequate housing worldwide in/after the 2010s. However, the differentiation of FRH and its impact on housing rents across countries, cities, and neighbourhoods remain understudied. This paper fills this gap by taking China as a case. First, through the lens of state entrepreneurism, we conceptualise how the interplay between the state and financial investors caused the shift of the FRH economy from the venture capital-led asset-light business model to the state-orchestrated asset-heavy business model. Second, we examine how FRH affects local housing rent differently across business models and cities using the housing economics approaches and big data analytics. The analysis results suggest that the differentiation of the socio-spatial consequences of FRH is caused not only by financial investors' motivation to capitalise on the local population and neighbourhoods but also by the state's motivation to employ financialisation to serve its policy objectives. This paper advances the understanding of the variegated FRH under state entrepreneurialism. It also informs the policies about which neighbourhoods and cities are most in need of interventions to mitigate the negative effects (e.g. , rent inflation and neighbourhood environment downgrade) brought about by FRH. • The differentiation of the financialisation of rental housing (FRH) and its impact on rents across countries, cities, and neighbourhoods remain understudied. • We conceptualise the logic and examine the socio-spatial impact of variegated FRH economy in five Chinese cities. • Financial investors' motivation to capitalise on the local population and neighbourhoods and the state's motivation to employ financialisation for its policy objectives caused the differentiated FRH economy. • The asset-light FRH causes rent inflation while the asset-heavy addresses the housing demand but leads to neighbourhood environment downgrade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban projects featured with resilient development have become popular, whereas limited studies have been invested in evaluating the impacts of these projects. A debate exists, asking if these impacts could ever be captured and verified. This communication paper argues that project impacts could be demonstrated, by specifying (1) the relatable literature, measurements, and rational assessment criteria, (2) a confined assessment timeframe, and (3) available scientific data sources. The paper derives the assessment experiences of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID), supported by the World Bank, in view of the above argument. Through a mixed-methods approach with two waves of investigation, the assessment experiences successfully capture the pre-intervention indicators that GARID may lead. The assessment experiences also provide in-time recommendations toward GARID's implementation, advancing more inclusive stakeholder engagement. The fruitful results confirm the paper's argument. Meanwhile, having third parties to conduct impact assessments could uncover non-supervised project outcomes and challenges that typical official reports would not investigate. Encouraging commitments to impact assessments of international development projects like GARID would help southern cities move toward inclusive prosperity. • Resilient development projects increased, with influences challenging to validate. • A debate exists regarding whether the impacts could ever be captured and verified. • This paper argues that the impacts could be assessed when conditions are met. • Assessment experiences from a funded research were drawn to support the argument. • Encouraging third parties to assess impacts could uncover fruitful outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing influence of cities is visible at the national level and in international politics. This new reality is leading to a paradigm shift in global politics and international law. As part of this new reality, cities demand recognition of their position. This paper aims to examine the already existing bodies that formally represent cities in the decision-making processes within some intergovernmental organizations' structures and answer the question about the need to create a new organ within the United Nations system that will better accommodate the growing role of cities in international relations. If the answer is positive, the attempt shall be made to consider what such an organ could look like. The novelty of this paper is that it is the first to provide some reflection on the possible status and composition of such a new UN body. • The growing role of cities in international relations has not been properly reflected in the structures of the UN. • The UN system should become more inclusive of cities rather than state-centric. • The UN General Assembly could create a new UN organ dedicated to cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovation literature is growing rapidly, and a primary concern revolves around the contexts that foster and enhance innovation and entrepreneurial outcomes. Research on innovation environments still requires further development. This paper sheds light on fostering and developing innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems in cities from the institutional work perspective, emphasizing the need to institutionalize collaboration. The paper employs the case study method with a process data approach. The study took place in two Latin American cities, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis, within a cultural context characterized by a non-cooperative background. The findings are linked to the institutionalization of collaboration in the development of innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, unfolding in three phases involving three groups of roles: leaders, supporters, and the community. The practices are associated with the leader's group in the first phase (Preparing for Collaboration). The second phase (Strengthening Collaboration) expands the practices and adjusts the focus to the supporter's group. Additionally, the third phase (Disseminating Collaboration) continues to broaden the scope and gains relevance for the community's group. Therefore, the evolution of the phases is connected to the expansion of the range of institutionalization practices and a focus on the most active roles. These results carry significant implications for the theory and practice of innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem emergence, offering insights into the phases and roles critical for fostering innovation environments. Furthermore, they can provide practical guidance for other cities or regions aiming to cultivate robust innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems. • The process of fostering and developing an innovation an entrepreneurial ecosystem in cities with the institutional work perspective considers the need to institutionalize the collaboration. • The study was conducted in two cities with a cultural context of non-cooperation background. • Institutionalizing collaboration for the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem occurs in three phases: Preparing for Collaboration, Strengthening Collaboration and Disseminating Collaboration. • Innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem development involve three groups of roles: leaders, supporters, and community. • The evolution of the phases is related to the expansion of the range of institutionalization practices and to the focus on the roles most involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of public space management (PSM) in the Mexican context by analysing the perspectives of different governance actors. Issues in the PSM literature include ineffective political decisions, prevalence of the private sector, lack of coordination between government institutions, and a need for more effective social participation. While most PSM studies focus on European cities, empirical PSM knowledge in the Latin American context is scarce. To address this gap, this research elucidates the Mexican context by investigating and adapting a PSM framework in Mexico City and Puebla. The case study research is based on qualitative document research and interview analysis from four groups of governance actors: government officials, academics, NGOs, and architecture/urban planning firms. We found multiple PSM challenges: uncoordinated efforts in the maintenance of public space, lack of and polarisation of investment, and privatisation of public space. At the intra-governmental level, the research identified a lack of coordination between government institutions, increasing reliance on the private sector, and limited opportunities for residents to participate in PSM processes. The paper highlights missing links between existing governance actors involved in PSM and wider residents, in the pursuit of the ambitious role of achieving public space quality. • Public Space Management theory contrasts with the reality in the Mexican context. • Governments rely on the private sector for the development of public spaces. • Limited opportunities for local residents to participate in Public Space Management processes • Awareness is needed among governance actors on the management of public spaces. • Lack of transparency in publicly available data affects how public spaces are managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current studies on shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) and road congestion pricing (RCP) mainly focus on their independent effect on mobility, and rarely consider the joint impact of the two policies on accessibility. In light of this incentive, this paper establishes a bi-level programming model with multi-objective functions and multi-decision variables to solve the joint optimal pricing problem of SAVs and RCP considering accessibility. Because of the complex relationship between the decision variables and the objective functions, the proposed bi-level programming model belongs to a black-box problem. A machine learning algorithm based on multi-objective Bayesian optimization was developed to solve the proposed model, by taking Jiangyin City as an empirical case study. The results show that the combined implementation of SAVs and RCP plays an essential role in enhancing the performance of land-use and transportation systems. However, this advantageous outcome relies on an appropriately appropriate pricing strategy. Failing to account for the influence of the pricing strategy on implementation efficacy, SAVs and RCP could result in a 22.2 % and 5.0 % degradation in regional accessibility and total flow time, respectively. In contrast, the joint optimal pricing strategy of SAVs and RCP can not only mitigate traffic congestion and improve transportation network efficiency but also optimize urban spatial distribution and promote compact urban development, ultimately achieving a 14.0 % improvement in regional accessibility and 18.5 % reduction in total flow time. Sensitivity analysis reveals that with the increase in SAV market penetration rate, regional accessibility sees a steady rise. Conversely, the total flow time initially escalates before experiencing a decline. The method proposed in this paper serves not only in determining the joint optimal pricing strategy of SAVs and RCP to enhance accessibility, but also in analyzing and optimizing the accessibility impact of other land-use and transportation policies. • The joint optimal pricing problem of shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) and road congestion pricing (RCP) is studied. • A bi-level model with multi-objective functions and multi-decision variables is established. • The multi-objective Bayesian optimization algorithm is developed to solve the model. • SAVs and RCP can optimize accessibility under an appropriate pricing strategy. • Sensitivity analysis of SAV market penetration rate on the objective functions is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivering sustainable and inclusive low-carbon transport is a critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Yet transport infrastructure is vulnerable to the effects of climate change in low-income countries in Africa. This paper explores the status of inclusive mobility and climate-resilient transportation in Africa, focusing on the perceptions and importance amongst key stakeholders, their incorporation into existing practices, and the priority given to making transport more inclusive and climate resilient. A nested scale approach was used that included an online continental survey of 136 respondents from 17 African countries; 2 country-level Focus Group Discussions in Uganda and Zambia; and city-level semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in Lusaka and Kampala using the Delphi method. In addition, an online spatial questionnaire (Maptionnaire) was used to locate where infrastructure improvements were needed, and two city workshops held in Lusaka and Kampala. Providing more active travel infrastructure was a priority for both government and non-governmental groups. This is not connected to climate resilience but to immediate priorities of road safety and health. Our surveys highlighted that climate resilience and inclusive mobility policies are in place, but poor implementation and lack of transparency were undermining outcomes. Upgrading existing infrastructure was more cost-effective and workable than developing new robust alternatives. Lack of knowledge exchange was limiting agencies efforts to tackle this growing challenge. The paper underscores the need to raise awareness of relevant options to improve the climate resilience of transport infrastructure and expand accessible mobility solutions to tackle issues of inclusion and equity in African cities. • African transport policy & planning processes needs a fundamental shift to develop sustainable, equitable and resilient transport infrastructure. • African decision makers lack of climate risks to transport infrastructure knowledge is undermining efforts to increase resilience. • Expanding active travel infrastructure is a priority for African city planners but is not connected to climate resilience. • Upgrading existing transport infrastructure is seen as more cost-effective than developing new robust alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to shed light on the complex relationship between social change and support for the development of Cittaslow (SDC). The current research did not focus on this relationship considering the asymmetric effect. This paper, therefore, examines both the net and asymmetric effects with PLS-SEM and fsQCA. Data was collected in Seferihisar which is the first Cittaslow of Turkiye. 399 usable questionnaire was included in the data analysis. Even though only family values had a significant effect on SDC, other social change constructs also had different roles in recipes. Considering the contrarian case analysis, complexity theory gave meaningful insights. Not only high scores of constructs but also low scores should be considered in future research. • Sustainability should be examined considering social effects of a Cittaslow. • Explains asymmetrical and symmetrical effects of social change in a Cittaslow • Causal asymmetry is supported in predicting support for the development of Cittaslow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are busy people. How do we, as researchers, address the challenges of doing research with busy people—especially if we wish to enact ethical, more radical futures? How do we adhere to the pressures of fast-paced urban life when research, especially interviews, takes away people's time? This paper presents a novel method for doing research with busy people, combining the 'walking interview' method with a 'free listing technique.' The interviews were carried out with teachers at a north Queensland primary school in a rapidly urbanising neighbourhood, and formed part of a larger project exploring the barriers and opportunities of incorporating community gardens (as important green spaces) into schools. The method itself yielded important findings and this paper is a reflective analysis of how simple factors such as the weather, noise, and interruptions shaped 20 min of a teacher's day. We extend these ideas to explore how conditioned and situational temporalities, along with more-than-human influences, affect the knowledge produced in rapid walking interviews. Keeping track of these affections can yield important data relevant to the project. The research will be invaluable for other researchers struggling with ethical and other issues shaping access to stakeholders in a diverse range of urban environments. • The methodology presented in this paper is valuable for researchers facing ethical and access challenges in diverse urban settings • Counter-cities require radically different research • Temporalities, including conditioned and situational and non-human influences, shapes knowledge production during rapid walking interviews • Factors like weather, noise, and interruptions during interviews can significantly impact the research process and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we assessed size of the shadow economy for 198 prefecture-level cities in China from the years 2000 to 2018 using a method called MIMIC, which stands for multiple indicators and multiple causes. The goal of the paper is to investigate temporal-spatial characteristics of evolution in the shadow economy. The results manifest that percentage of the total commerce that is hidden from view all over China first increases and then decreases over time, with an average of 17.08 %. The increase in taxation will likely trigger a massive expansion in the business conducted in the shadows, while the increase in government regulation and self-employment rates all have produced negative effects on it. The locations that have a significant amount of unreported economic activity are basically centralized in southeast coastal area, southwest area, northeast of China, and three provinces of central China. Moreover, the difference in shadow economy between resource-based and non-resource-based cities tends to widen gradually after 2013. Cities being too large or too small may face a high proportion of shadow economy. • We measure the size of shadow economy for 198 prefecture-level cities in China. • A high proportion of shadow economy exist in the southwest, northeast, southeast coastal and central area of China. • The difference in shadow economy between resource-based and non-resource-based cities tends to widen gradually. • Cities being too large or too small may face a high proportion of shadow economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]