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Tight spaces, strong cities: The resilience payoff of urban compactness

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  • Lian, Haoyu
  • Kong, Shuning
  • Yu, Yihua

Abstract

This study investigates the critical role of urban compactness in enhancing economic resilience, a topic of growing importance in light of increasing urbanization and external shocks. Using data from Chinese cities spanning 2010–2020 the study develops an urban compactness index based on fractal geometry and nighttime light data. Panel analysis results reveal a significant positive impact of compactness on economic resilience. Robustness checks focusing on sample issues and endogeneity confirm the core finding. Moreover, the impact of compactness is driven by industrial agglomeration, improved land use efficiency, and reduced public fiscal burden. The effect varies by city size and economic development level, with less developed cities benefiting more from compact planning. This study enhances the understanding of how spatial form influences urban resilience and provides policy recommendations for strengthening resilience through compact urban development strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Lian, Haoyu & Kong, Shuning & Yu, Yihua, 2025. "Tight spaces, strong cities: The resilience payoff of urban compactness," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:156:y:2025:i:c:s0264837725001553
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107621
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban compactness; Economic resilience; Industrial agglomeration; Land use efficiency; Fiscal expenditure; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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