IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i4p666-d96522.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Urban Competitiveness Measurement of Chinese Cities Based on a Structural Equation Model

Author

Listed:
  • Zhiyuan Yuan

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xinqi Zheng

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Lulu Zhang

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Guoliang Zhao

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

In the current era, competition among countries and regions is in fact among cities. Thus, how to measure urban competitiveness precisely is a basic and important question. The two main approaches to this are comprehensive evaluation based on a set of indicators and network analysis based on inter-city relations. However, both have shortcomings. In this study, we introduced structural equation model (SEM) into urban competitiveness measurement to integrate the two approaches. We built a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS–SEM) according to the analysis of causal relationship among urban attribute indicators → urban functions → urban competitiveness → urban flow intensities. Following the processes of algorithm selection, model building, fitting and assessment, and modification in PLS-SEM modeling, we measured the urban competitiveness of Chinese cities in 2010 and analyzed its distribution quantitatively and spatially. The results revealed relationships between factors contained in the model and urban competitiveness and proved that the PLS-SEM urban competitiveness measurement approach we proposed is theoretically reliable and statistically valid.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiyuan Yuan & Xinqi Zheng & Lulu Zhang & Guoliang Zhao, 2017. "Urban Competitiveness Measurement of Chinese Cities Based on a Structural Equation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:666-:d:96522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/4/666/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/4/666/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lisa Benton‐Short & Marie D. Price & Samantha Friedman, 2005. "Globalization from Below: The Ranking of Global Immigrant Cities," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 945-959, December.
    2. Ron Martin, 2014. "Keys to the City: How Economics, Institutions, Social Interaction, and Politics Shape Development By Michael Storper Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press , 2013 ," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 90(3), pages 341-344, July.
    3. Rosen, Kenneth T. & Resnick, Mitchel, 1980. "The size distribution of cities: An examination of the Pareto law and primacy," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 165-186, September.
    4. Lin Ding & Zhenfeng Shao & Hanchao Zhang & Cong Xu & Dewen Wu, 2016. "A Comprehensive Evaluation of Urban Sustainable Development in China Based on the TOPSIS-Entropy Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Herman Wold, 1980. "Model Construction and Evaluation When Theoretical Knowledge Is Scarce," NBER Chapters, in: Evaluation of Econometric Models, pages 47-74, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Arthur S. Alderson & Jason Beckfield & Jessica Sprague-Jones, 2010. "Intercity Relations and Globalisation: The Evolution of the Global Urban Hierarchy, 1981—2007," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(9), pages 1899-1923, August.
    7. John Friedmann, 1986. "The World City Hypothesis," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 69-83, January.
    8. Lee Cronbach, 1951. "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 16(3), pages 297-334, September.
    9. Tenenhaus, Michel & Vinzi, Vincenzo Esposito & Chatelin, Yves-Marie & Lauro, Carlo, 2005. "PLS path modeling," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 159-205, January.
    10. Martijn J. Burger & Frank G. Oort & Ronald S. Wall & Mark J. P. M. Thissen, 2013. "Analysing the Competitive Advantage of Cities in the Dutch Randstad by Urban Market Overlap," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Johan Klaesson & Börje Johansson & Charlie Karlsson (ed.), Metropolitan Regions, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 375-391, Springer.
    11. Matthew C. Mahutga & Xiulian Ma & David A. Smith & Michael Timberlake, 2010. "Economic Globalisation and the Structure of the World City System: The Case of Airline Passenger Data," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(9), pages 1925-1947, August.
    12. John Bowen, 2002. "Network Change, Deregulation, and Access in the Global Airline Industry," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 78(4), pages 425-439, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Malin Song & Qianjiao Xie, 2021. "Evaluation of Urban Competitiveness of the Huaihe River Eco-Economic Belt Based on Dynamic Factor Analysis," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 58(3), pages 615-639, October.
    2. Xiaoxiao Ye & Yong Fan & Jing Miao & Zongyi He, 2022. "The Competitiveness of Regional Urban System in Hubei Province of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Cem Çağrı Dönmez & Abdulkadir Atalan, 2019. "Developing Statistical Optimization Models for Urban Competitiveness Index: Under the Boundaries of Econophysics Approach," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-11, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. O'Connor, Kevin & Fuellhart, Kurt, 2013. "Change in air services at second rank cities," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 26-30.
    2. Xingjian Liu & Ben Derudder & Frank Witlox & Michael Hoyler, 2014. "Cities As Networks within Networks of Cities: The Evolution of the City/Firm-Duality in the World City Network, 2000–2010," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 105(4), pages 465-482, September.
    3. Matsumoto, Hidenobu & Domae, Koji, 2018. "The effects of new international airports and air-freight integrator's hubs on the mobility of cities in urban hierarchies: A case study in East and Southeast Asia," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 160-166.
    4. Ben Derudder & Christof Parnreiter, 2014. "Introduction: The Interlocking Network Model for Studying Urban Networks: Outline, Potential, Critiques, and Ways Forward," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 105(4), pages 373-386, September.
    5. Nitzl, Christian, 2016. "The use of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) in management accounting research: Directions for future theory development," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 19-35.
    6. P. A. Ferrari & S. Salini, 2008. "Measuring Service Quality: The Opinion of Europeans about Utilities," Working Papers 2008.36, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    7. Huang, Shih-Chieh & Lo, Shang-Lien & Lin, Yen-Ching, 2013. "Application of a fuzzy cognitive map based on a structural equation model for the identification of limitations to the development of wind power," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 851-861.
    8. Mohsin, Asad & Lengler, Jorge & Aguzzoli, Roberta, 2015. "Staff turnover in hotels: Exploring the quadratic and linear relationships," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 35-48.
    9. Anna Lejpras & Andreas Stephan, 2011. "Locational conditions, cooperation, and innovativeness: evidence from research and company spin-offs," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 46(3), pages 543-575, June.
    10. Immacolata Di Napoli & Pasquale Dolce & Caterina Arcidiacono, 2019. "Community Trust: A Social Indicator Related to Community Engagement," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 551-579, September.
    11. Zachary Neal, 2010. "Refining the Air Traffic Approach to City Networks," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(10), pages 2195-2215, September.
    12. Nancy Vargas & M. Begoña Lloria & Salvador Roig-Dobón, 2016. "Main drivers of human capital, learning and performance," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(5), pages 961-978, October.
    13. Jiancheng Guan & Yan Yan & Jingjing Zhang, 2015. "How do collaborative features affect scientific output? Evidences from wind power field," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(1), pages 333-355, January.
    14. Ringle, Christian M. & Götz, Oliver & Wetzels, Martin & Wilson, Bradley, 2009. "On the Use of Formative Measurement Specifications in Structural Equation Modeling: A Monte Carlo Simulation Study to Compare Covariance-Based and Partial Least Squares Model Estimation Methodologies," MPRA Paper 15390, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. René Belderbos & Helen S. Du & Anthony Goerzen, 2017. "Global Cities, Connectivity, and the Location Choice of MNC Regional Headquarters," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(8), pages 1271-1302, December.
    16. Sergeja Slapničar & Adriana Rejc Buhovac, 2014. "Identifying temporal relationships within multidimensional performance measurement," Journal of Business Economics and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(5), pages 978-993, November.
    17. Chung-Ho Su, 2018. "Exploring Sustainability Environment Educational Design and Learning Effect Evaluation through Migration Theory: An Example of Environment Educational Serious Games," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-26, September.
    18. Dr. Mehmet Ali Ekemen & Pelin Bayram, 2014. "Enhancing International Performance of Exporting Firms through E-Business Integration," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 4(1), pages 221-229, June.
    19. Donny Oktavian Syah, 2019. "Identifying vertical partnership among automotive component companies: empirical evidence from automotive industry in Jabodetabek, Indonesia," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-25, December.
    20. Jörg Henseler, 2018. "Partial least squares path modeling: Quo vadis?," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 1-8, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:666-:d:96522. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.