Search

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

While localized price competition in many markets has been extensively analyzed, little empirical work has been undertaken in the land market. It is the intent of this paper, therefore, to investigate the nature of spatial price competition among land sellers that compete in concentrated markets within a specific geographical area. Applying spatio-temporal autoregressive model to data from the residential land market in China from 2007 to 2015, we find that, (1) the land market for residential development is highly localized, where land sellers (local governments) respond more strongly to the price changes by "close-by" sellers; (2) larger market share is significantly associated with less spatial price response and higher land price. Placebo analysis using the sample of land supply for industrial development reinforces a causal interpretation of our main findings. Results from this paper permit the conclusion that the supply of land for residential development is not a perfect competitive but a localized competitive market where land sellers controlling a larger share of the market exercise market power to maximize land revenue. • The first study investigating the nature of spatial price competition in land market. • Price competition among land sellers is highly localized. • Market concentration significantly influences the pricing behaviors of land sellers. • Land sellers exercise market power to maximize land revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on energy poverty dynamics by answering one question: Does energy poverty trap exist in Chinese cities? For this purpose, we examine the co-evolution between per capita energy consumption and income for 286 prefectural-and-above level cities in China over the period 2002 to 2014. A nonparametric joint-distribution dynamics approach is employed in the analysis. Both static and dynamic distribution analyses demonstrate significant evidence of club convergence in energy consumption across Chinese cities, and there are multiple equilibria between per capita energy consumption and income in the long-run distribution. The results also suggest that considerable cities fall into energy poverty trap, a chronic state with low income and low energy consumption. Therefore, we can argue that energy poverty is not a transitory state for those cities and support the existence of energy poverty trap in China. Our findings highlight the need to tailor policies aimed at reducing energy poverty in low-income cities. • We examine the co-evolution between per capita energy consumption and income in China. • A dataset of China's 286 prefecture-level cities during 2002–2014 is explored. • The results argue club convergence in energy consumption across Chinese cities. • Considerable cities fall into energy poverty trap. • The study supports the existence of energy poverty trap in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to explain the Chinese conception of city branding. Given the intricate and multidisciplinary nature of city branding, the article aims to address a gap in the literature and provide a direction to a deeper understanding of city branding from the Chinese socialism context. Taking a case study approach, the article analyses a significant body of discussion resulting from in-depth interviews with branding experts and government officials in Chongqing, the case study city. The analysis focuses on the role of the government and reveals that city branding in China is influenced, and largely controlled, by the national government. The discussion of the agents of Chinese city branding, city branding as a government tool, and the tendency towards policization, which means that city branding is implemented as part of urban policy, contributes to the theoretical growth of current city branding beyond a neoliberal perspective. • This paper sheds light on the understanding of city branding from the novel angle of government management • Government departments initiate and oversee branding initiatives and facilitate cross-stakeholder cooperation. • How government departments effectively manage city branding by combining it with urban policy was investigated. • The importance of political influence in city branding is highlighted. • A review of city branding within socialist contexts guides city governments to participate in branding endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renewal of old communities (OCR) is a crucial component of China's urban renewal strategy. However, the huge funding gap, coupled with the unwillingness of enterprises to participate, has impeded the sustainable development of OCR in China. This issue has become a major practical challenge for the government. This study employed the modified theory of planned behavior (M-TPB) to examine enterprise behavior, focusing on how internal capabilities and external conditions influence their participation. Data was collected from 261 questionnaire surveys, and structured equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Further in-depth interviews were conducted to explain and validate the results from the SEM. The findings illustrate that: (1) the M-TPB offers a more detailed and nuanced explanation of the mechanisms influencing participation behavior; (2) the attitude towards participation is an important factor in shaping the intention to participate; (3) there is a significant negative correlation between perceived behavioral control, which is based on external conditions, and the participation intention; and (4) different types of enterprises show differences in attitude and perceived behavioral control. These findings provide new insights and perspectives on the OCR dilemma in China, highlighting some important practical implications for fostering various forms of enterprise participation in OCR projects. • This paper analyzes enterprises' participation in OCR from a new perspective - the behavioral intention of managers. • The modified theory of planned behavior can better explain the influence mechanism. • Government should focus on improving the enterprises' attitude and the effectiveness of external conditions. • Propose strategies to promote participation for different types of enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban housing demolition has been a core Chinese policy to deal with poor quality and substantial residential units in cities in China. The policy operated to compensate individuals who were displaced when demolition projects were undertaken. Now the compensation for demolition in the shanty towns may be the largest transfer payment to households in the history of China. However, the large amount of compensation for demolition has also aroused social concerns that demolition will exacerbate wealth inequality. This study uses data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) data in 2013 and 2019 to analyze the impact of urban housing demolition on wealth inequality within cities. The results show that for cities with relatively lower levels of initial wealth inequality, the relatively wealthier households who experienced demolition had a rapid increase in their wealth. Thus, demolition increased the intra-city wealth inequality. In contrast, for cities with relatively higher levels of initial wealth inequality, demolition reduced the intra-city wealth inequality by removing low value housing units. Significantly, with the majority of tier 3 and tier 4 cities exhibiting greater initial wealth inequality compared to their tier 1 and tier 2 counterparts, the demolition policy has, in essence, curbed wealth disparities in these smaller urban areas. The paper also suggests how transfer payment policies can be used to realize the goal of common prosperity. • Individual housing demolition data provides greater clarity on effects of demolition on wealth inequality. • The effects of demolition on intra city inequality vary by locations of the demolished houses within city. • Demolition reduces intra city variation in wealth in most cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the urbanization process in China, issues such as the widening wealth gap, class stratification, and social exclusion influenced residents' decisions to pursue entrepreneurship. Inclusiveness is an inevitable trend in new urbanization, and it is also a key factor in promoting residents' entrepreneurship and stimulating the potential for social innovation. Based on three key principles, "fairness, openness, and sharing, " this paper assesses the relationship, and the internal mechanism driving the relationship, between urban social inclusiveness and resident entrepreneurship. This includes constructing an urban social inclusiveness index, and analyzing data from the 2018 China General Social Survey (CGSS). The key results indicate that urban social inclusiveness has a significant positive effect on resident entrepreneurship. The mechanism analysis shows that urban social inclusiveness can improve the probability of residents being entrepreneurial, by improving risk attitude, promoting class mobility, and expanding social networks. Heterogeneity analysis shows that urban social inclusiveness has a significant impact on the entrepreneurial of local residents, and low-class and high-class residents; urban social inclusiveness has no significant impact on the entrepreneurial choice of transient residents and middle-class residents. Besides, urban social inclusiveness plays a more significant role in promoting residents' choice of survival entrepreneurship, compared with opportunistic entrepreneurship. • Explore the relationship between urban social inclusiveness and resident entrepreneurship in China. • A new method for assessing the social inclusion of cities, which considers "fairness, openness, and sharing." • Examine the mediating role of risk attitudes, class mobility, and social networks. • Understand the heterogeneity of social classes, household registrations, and entrepreneurial types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from ships stand as one of the principal contributors to air pollution in coastal areas. China has implemented the Domestic Ship Emission Control Area (DECA) policy progressively since 2016 to alleviate sulfur oxide and particulate matter pollution in coastal cities by limiting the sulfur content in marine fuel oil. This study utilizes Synthetic Difference-in-Differences model to construct a counterfactual framework for evaluating the DECA policy effect on air quality of cities in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Bohai Rim region. Results revealed that DECA policy significantly reduced the urban sulfur dioxide (SO 2) concentrations of YRD, BR, and PRD regions by 9.93 %, 8.64 %, and 7.09 %, respectively. However, the policy's efficacy in restraining fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) concentrations was found to be non-significant. This study further estimated the dynamic changes in SO 2 concentration in coastal cities of different regions in the DECA coverage. The results showed that the DECA policy generally began to significantly reduce SO 2 concentration levels in the second year after implementation, and with the tightening of the DECA policy, the reduction effect followed a growing-and-then-falling trend. Finally, the paper offers policy recommendations to further reduce ship emissions, aligned with recent emission reduction advancements. • Assessing the impact of China's DECA on coastal urban air pollution using a synthetic difference-in-differences model. • DECA effectively reduces SO 2 concentrations in coastal cities, yet its control over PM 2.5 levels is limited. • The impact of DECA varies across regions, with the most significant effects in the YRD, followed by BR and the PRD. • Several policy recommendations are proposed to optimize the effectiveness of DECA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the establishment of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals in China, developing low-carbon cities has become crucial. Previous studies primarily focus on the quantitative structure of land use to achieve low carbon optimization, while ignoring the spatial integration between urban form and carbon emissions. To fulfill this gap, this paper proposed a dual-scale low carbon oriented multi-objective land use allocation (DOLA) optimization model, utilizing idea-point multi-objective linear programming (IMLP) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to optimize the low-carbon-emission pattern of the city at both the structural and spatial scales respectively. By innovatively linking the urban shape index with carbon emissions, this model aims to minimize urban carbon emissions, while maximizing economic development, urban development suitability, and the compactness of city. The proposed method is applied to Wuhan's main urban area in China, the DOLA model shows significant improvements in target values across all scenarios. Among them, the scenario that prioritized low carbon emissions at both the structural and spatial scales achieved the most significant reduction of 6.43 % in carbon emissions. The DOLA effectively contributes to achieving multiple spatial targets, thereby aiding in reducing carbon emissions. It offers technical support for developing pathways towards China's "dual carbon" target. • A dual-scale low carbon oriented multi-objective land use allocation (DOLA) optimization model is proposed. • The DOLA model innovatively incorporates urban form indices to carbon emissions. • The DOLA model achieves spatial aggregation targets, thereby facilitating significant reductions in carbon emissions. • The DOLA model generates a series of land use optimization scenarios, offering a valuable reference for land use planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of transportation systems and increased connectivity between cities, the capacity of regional cities to propagate risks and cooperate with each other has a great impact on regional resilience. Given that a region can be seen as a networked and multidimensional system with complex interactions of cities, it is necessary to assess regional resilience based on the complex network thinking. This paper views the region as a two-layer coupled city network with risk propagation and cooperative recovery and propose the regional resilience assessment framework. Then, a network of 337 prefecture-level cities in mainland China is used as the study area to assess the impact of different cities on the regional resilience after a sudden public health disaster. The results show that cities in western China have less impact on regional resilience, while cities in central and eastern China have more impact. In addition, we found that each indicator under the three dimensions of regional network resilience has different degrees of correlation with influencing factors. Meanwhile, the changes in the same influencing factor may cause indicators under different dimensions of resilience to increase or decrease. There is a trade-off between approaches to improve regional resilience under each dimension. • Portrays the city network under risk propagation and cooperative recovery with a two-layer coupled network model • Proposes a quantitative regional resilience assessment framework in the dynamic perspective • Assesses the impact of different Chinese cities on regional resilience after a sudden public health disaster • Explores the impact of different elements of the regional city network on its resilience [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the spatial diffusion of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in China, assessing the effects of regional boundaries, including political and functional boundaries, and transaction costs on this process. We conduct an empirical analysis using county-level panel data from 2014 to 2020 and employ a combination of geographic information system (GIS) and spatial autoregressive models to analyze the spatial factors influencing PPP diffusion in China. Our findings reveal three key points: First, local governments' PPP investment positively correlates with neighboring regions, indicating a contagious effect. Second, the contagious effect is more significant within the same urban agglomeration, demonstrating a boundary effect and illustrating the impact of spatial rescaling on spatial diffusion. Third, the contagious effect is more pronounced for PPP sectors with lower output measurement difficulty, suggesting transaction costs influence spatial diffusion. These findings offer valuable insights into barriers to spatial diffusion and strategies to promote the spatial diffusion of innovation. • We explore the spatial diffusion of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in China. • We conduct an empirical analysis using county-level panel data from 2014 to 2020. • Results indicate a contagious effect in the spatial diffusion of PPP investment. • The contagious effect is more significant within the same urban agglomeration. • Transaction costs influence spatial diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the "land-debt" financing pattern in China in the context of local governments under fiscal pressure and analyzes the development and economic effects of land financialization. Using a difference-in-differences approach based on the exogenous shock of city–county mergers, we find that city–county mergers significantly boost local governments' debt issuance, causing land financialization. City–county mergers relax land resource constraints on local governments, increasing land held by local government financing vehicles (land mortgages) and land transfer revenue (land guarantees). Accordingly, it is as such an impact mechanism rather than a fiscal pressure that mainly leads to debt expansion. We also document that this effect is more pronounced in China's central and western regions, where land is more correlated with local economies; in periods when the central government does not regulate local land financing; and in areas where officials have strong promotion incentives. Further analysis reveals that most of the debt funds raised by city–county mergers are used for infrastructure construction and loan repayment, and the increasing debt risk of local governments should also be a matter of concern. • City–county mergers significantly boost local governments' debt issuance, causing land financialization in China. • City–county mergers relax the land resource constraints, enhancing land held by local government financing vehicles and land transfer revenue. • Debts raised by city-county mergers, mainly for infrastructure and loan repayment, pose rising risk concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of political uncertainty on sustainable urban development by examining carbon emission trading systems (ETS) in four major markets in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hubei) from 2014 to 2022. As an alternative to carbon taxes, carbon ETS markets have become increasingly popular due to their success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, their effectiveness is often hindered by political instability and uncertainty. Utilising logistic regression and AR(1)-GARCH estimations, we identify a negative relationship between political uncertainty and carbon trading volume. Our study also reveals significant variations in the responses of these markets to political uncertainty. The paper contributes to the understanding of how ETS markets operate in a complex and constantly changing political environment. We suggest that policymakers need to consider the impact of political uncertainty on carbon trading when designing and implementing urban policies that promote sustainable development. Additionally, our research contributes to the development of urban policies that can be effectively implemented in both developed and developing regions. • Local government official turnovers are used as the measurement of political uncertainty. • Daily transaction data from four carbon ETS markets (Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei and Guangdong) in China • Considered the probability and proportion of zero transaction day • Logistic regression and AR(1)-GARCH estimations • A negative relationship between political uncertainty and carbon transaction volume [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's new town and ghost city phenomenon has attracted interest from academics and the media since the 2010s. There is, however, little research on the lived experiences of people in new towns, or of the transformation of these new towns. This paper uses Lefebvre's spatial triad to examine how the spaces of the new town are produced and transformed by interactions between multiple actors. Using an analytical framework based on the spatial triad, we explore the interactive mechanisms and the dialectical relationships within the triad. Taking Kangbashi, a new town in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, as a case study, we explore how the spatial production of a new town is co-created by multiple actors, and local government-led conceived space plays a dominant role in that creation. Through interactions in the dynamic nexus of conceived-perceived-lived space, the new town space is in the process of transformation from an empty "ghost city" to a comfortable habitable city. This research deepens our understanding of new towns and production of space by connecting state-led and capital-driven urban construction with the lived practices of residents. Moreover, this empirical Chinese study contributes to knowledge and understanding across diverse global urban contexts. • An analytical framework based on the spatial triad is proposed. • The mechanisms for the transformation of a new town space from a ghost city to a more habitable city is examined. • The local government dominates both the production of space and its transformation in the new town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper integrates low-carbon development into the context of economic resilience, thus proposing "Low-carbon Economic Resilience" (LER). We establish an analysis framework to analyze LER based on regional interactions. The framework indicates that regions achieve LER by transferring the development burden to others, which will result in inter-regional trade inequality. An empirical analysis focused on inter-regional trade in cities of China is carried out to illustrate this framework. We calculate the degree of economic resilience and low-carbon development in cities of China. Then we trace the environmental-economic benefits embodied in virtual built-up land flow in regions. The characteristics of virtual built-up land flow exert an impact on the spatial distribution of regional economic resilience to a certain extent. The results show that, in China, many cities achieved only economic resilience or low-carbon development, while a few cities were able to achieve LER. The latter imported built-up land with high carbon emissions or low economic benefits from others, while developing "high-quality" built-up land themselves, which was reflected in the benefits per hectare of built-up land. The differences in environmental-economic benefits from inter-regional trade cause trade inequality, and major cities are the main beneficiaries, which contributes to their achievement of LER. • Low-carbon economic resilience is proposed. • Quantifying the environmental-economic benefits of inter-regional trade of cities in China. • Dividing built-up land into 4 categories to match MRIO model. • Analyzing low-carbon economic resilience based on regional interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The travel restriction leads to the enormous economic loss to the tourism industry. In this paper, the economic loss and the environmental gains (e.g., water and energy resources) from COVID-19 impact on China's tourism industry are estimated based on environmentally extended multiple regional input-output model. Results indicate that the China's tourism consumption loss triggered 921 billion US$ output loss via supply chain in 2020, which account for 7 % of GDP in 2019. Additionally, the economic loss further ripples tourism water footprint conservation of 10 billion m3 (equal to the annual water consumption of Poland) and tourism energy footprint conservation of 116 million tce (equal to the annual energy consumption of Australia). Findings reveal that regions with large tourism economic losses are not completely consistent with the regions with significant relief of water and energy pressures. Water pressure in Xinjiang (Northwest) and energy pressure in Hainan (South) have been alleviated due to reduced tourism consumption along the Southeast coast. These knock-on effects highlight a deeper internal link between the economy and the environment. The development of tourism in the post-COVID-19 era needs to reduce the direct water and energy footprint of local area by applying advanced water-saving and energy-saving technologies. • China's tourism output loss caused by COVID-19 accounts for 7 % of GDP in 2019. • 10 billion m3 of water saving equals to the annual water consumption of Poland. • 116 million tce of energy saving equals to the annual energy consumption of Australia. • Tourism activities decreasing in East relieve great water use stress in Northwest China. • Decreasing tourism demand in Southeast mitigates energy use stress in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]