The Role of the State in China's Urban System Development: Government Capacity, Institution and Policy

The state's hierarchical organization of power in China's urban system leads to variations in government capacities among cities, with the state achieving its goal of controlling the scale of large cities but reducing the gaps between them. The Urban Administrative System (UAS) is an important tool for the state to regulate urban system development, and the administrative level significantly affects urban growth performance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 213 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate dynamics of how the state intervenes in the urban system of China during the post-reform era. By adopting a political hierarchy perspective, it establishes a conceptual framework that explores the hierarchical organization of state power within China's urban landscape, leading to diverse variations in urban government capacities among cities.

The book unveils that the state has largely succeeded in implementing its national urban system policy, aimed at "strictly controlling the scale of large cities." This policy has resulted in the underdevelopment of large cities, particularly when they prioritize market forces for growth. However, as China progresses toward a market economy, the influence of this policy has diminished. Furthermore, state regulation and policies have worked to narrow the gaps between cities at the top and bottom of the urban hierarchy.

The book argues that the Urban Administrative System (UAS) plays a crucial role in the state's ability to regulate and guide the development of the urban system. It highlights the significant impact of the administrative level on urban growth performance, emphasizing that the UAS hierarchically distinguishes between the urban growth processes. By controlling the administrative-level upgrading process, the state can effectively prevent the rapid expansion of cities in size and number.

Through a theoretical and empirical exploration, this book sheds light on the central role of hierarchical power relations among cities and the resulting variations in urban government capacities in shaping China's urban system development in the post-reform period. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between the state, urbanization, and economic development, offering a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics driving China's urban transformation.

Weight: 361g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789813363649
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021