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Urbanisation from Below: The Growth of Towns in Jiangsu, China

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  • Laurence J. C. Ma

    (Department of Geography and Planning, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA)

  • Ming Fan

    (Department of Geography and Planning, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA)

Abstract

Urbanisation in China during the Maoist period was largely a consequence of centralised planning and Soviet-type industrialisation dominated by the growth of cities. The towns lost their commercial function and stagnated. Since the reforms of 1978, the growth of towns has emerged as a new force of Chinese urbanisation. This case study of the growth of towns in Jiangsu province shows that enterprises in the towns have attracted a large number of daily commuters and some migrants, resulting in a more diversified pattern of population composition in the towns. The population of the towns is growing at a faster rate than the city population. Manufacturing dominates the employment structure of the designated towns, including county capitals, as well as the rural market towns. The central government of China has not played any active role in the growth of towns. If the towns and town enterprises are allowed to grow for an extended period of time, they may lead to the emergence of a more powerful track of 'urbanisation from below' to accompany the established track of 'urbanisation from above'.

Suggested Citation

  • Laurence J. C. Ma & Ming Fan, 1994. "Urbanisation from Below: The Growth of Towns in Jiangsu, China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 31(10), pages 1625-1645, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:31:y:1994:i:10:p:1625-1645
    DOI: 10.1080/00420989420081551
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sen, Amartya, 1981. "Public Action and the Quality of Life in Developing Countries," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 43(4), pages 287-319, November.
    2. Bert F. Hoselitz, 1953. "The Role of Cities in the Economic Growth of Underdeveloped Countries," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61, pages 195-195.
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    1. Chang, Gene Hsin & Brada, Josef C., 2006. "The paradox of China's growing under-urbanization," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 24-40, March.
    2. Jihong Li & Rongxu Qiu & Kaiming Li & Wei Xu, 2018. "Informal Land Development on the Urban Fringe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Ling Zhang & Yehua Dennis Wei & Ran Meng, 2017. "Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Spatial Determinants of Urban Growth in Suzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-22, March.
    4. Yanjing Zhang & Zhengguo Su & Guan Li & Yuefei Zhuo & Zhongguo Xu, 2018. "Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Sustainable Urbanization Development: A Perspective of the Coupling Coordination Development Based on Population, Industry, and Built-Up Land Spatial Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, May.

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