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Administrative restructuring and urban development in China: Effects of urban administrative level upgrading

Author

Listed:
  • Jiejing Wang

    (School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, China)

  • Anthony GO Yeh

    (Department of Urban Planning and Design and Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Abstract

This study focuses on state-led urbanisation in the Chinese context by examining the effects of urban administrative level upgrading on urbanisation and urban development. We argue that urban administrative level upgrading is an important policy instrument in China that empowers cities to play a leading role in driving national and regional economic development. However, there is a lack of systematic empirical investigation to determine whether the objectives of urban administrative level upgrading have been achieved. Using a quasi-experimental method that combines propensity score matching with the difference-in-difference approach, we thoroughly examine the effects of county- to prefecture-level city upgrading and county to county-level city upgrading on the development performance of cities. The results confirm that county- to prefecture-level city upgrading can positively lead to a significant increase in urban population growth and fiscal revenue in a few years after upgrading, although this may not necessarily lead to rapid industrialisation. However, the same is not true for county to county-level city upgrading. This difference may be because counties and county-level cities are at the same administrative level, whilst prefecture-level cities are at a higher administrative level compared with county-level cities and counties. The results indicate that China’s administrative division system, although restructured, retains hierarchical and level-based structure in the post-reform period. We highlight the continuing strategic role of the Chinese state by establishing new scales and arenas and adjusting administrative structures to promote urban development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiejing Wang & Anthony GO Yeh, 2020. "Administrative restructuring and urban development in China: Effects of urban administrative level upgrading," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(6), pages 1201-1223, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:6:p:1201-1223
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019830898
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin DÄ…browski & Dominic Stead & Jinghuan He & Feng Yu, 2021. "Adaptive capacity of the Pearl River Delta cities in the face of the growing flood risk: Institutions, ideas and interests," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(13), pages 2683-2702, October.
    2. Youlin Chen & Lei Wang & Peiheng Yu & Ning Nie & Xuan Yang & Yiyun Chen, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Linkages between Administrative Division Adjustment and Urban Form: Political Drivers of the Urban Polycentric Structure," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-27, August.
    3. Zhihong Zeng & Chen You, 2022. "The Price of Becoming a City: Decentralization and Air Pollution—The Evidence from the Policy of County-to-City Upgrade in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Ning Jia & Huiyong Zhong, 2022. "The Causes and Consequences of China's Municipal Amalgamations: Evidence from Population Redistribution," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(4), pages 174-200, July.
    5. Xiaoyan Mu & Anthony Gar-On Yeh & Xiaohu Zhang & Jiejing Wang & Jian Lin, 2022. "Moving down the urban hierarchy: Turning point of China’s internal migration caused by age structure and hukou system," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(7), pages 1389-1405, May.
    6. Zhou, Changchang & Chan, Roger C.K., 2022. "State-scalar politics of rural land reform in China: The case of Wujin district," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Pengrui Wang & Chen Zeng & Yan Song & Long Guo & Wenping Liu & Wenting Zhang, 2021. "The Spatial Effect of Administrative Division on Land-Use Intensity," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-18, May.

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