IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v12y2023i2p423-d1059127.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Urban Intensity in Theory and Practice: Empirical Determining Mechanism of Floor Area Ratio and Its Deviation from the Classic Location Theories in Beijing

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Lu

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, 5 Summer Palace Road, Beijing 100871, China
    College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, 5 Summer Palace Road, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Jing Ning

    (College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, 5 Summer Palace Road, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Hong You

    (Department of Urban Regeneration and Planning, Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning, 60 Nanlishi Road, Beijing 100045, China)

  • Liyan Xu

    (College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Peking University, 5 Summer Palace Road, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

Background: Classic locational principles predict a picture of urban intensity decaying from the city center to the periphery under ideal assumptions. However, various exogenous factors can influence the real-world urban intensity and often deviate from the theoretical pattern. The specific mechanisms are worthy of exploration and are of potential theoretical and practical significance. Methods: In this paper, we consider two city districts with typical urban locations, namely, Changping and Chaoyang in Beijing, and construct mechanistic models of the status quo urban intensity (floor area ratio, FAR ) utilizing multisource spatiotemporal big data. We further compare these models with the “theoretically ideal” FAR patterns as would be predicted by applied locational theories. Results: We find that the status quo FAR distribution generally conforms to the theoretical predictions but still exhibits regional deviations that can be explained by historical inertia and influence from particular policies. Conclusion: We conclude this paper with discussions on the findings’ methodological and practical implications for urban planning institutions, especially in a transition economy context.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Lu & Jing Ning & Hong You & Liyan Xu, 2023. "Urban Intensity in Theory and Practice: Empirical Determining Mechanism of Floor Area Ratio and Its Deviation from the Classic Location Theories in Beijing," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:423-:d:1059127
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/423/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/423/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yingzhi Qiu & Yuqi Liu & Yi Liu & Zhigang Li, 2019. "Exploring the Linkage between the Neighborhood Environment and Mental Health in Guangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Ma, Jun & Cheng, Jack C.P. & Jiang, Feifeng & Chen, Weiwei & Zhang, Jingcheng, 2020. "Analyzing driving factors of land values in urban scale based on big data and non-linear machine learning techniques," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Xiaolu Gao & Yasushi Asami & Wataru Katsumata, 2006. "Evaluating Land-Use Restrictions concerning the Floor Area Ratio of Lots," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 24(4), pages 515-532, August.
    4. Luc Anselin, 2001. "Spatial Effects in Econometric Practice in Environmental and Resource Economics," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 83(3), pages 705-710.
    5. Robert M. Solow, 1973. "Congestion Cost and the Use of Land for Streets," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 4(2), pages 602-618, Autumn.
    6. Joshi, Kirti Kusum & Kono, Tatsuhito, 2009. "Optimization of floor area ratio regulation in a growing city," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 502-511, July.
    7. Simin Davoudi, 2003. "EUROPEAN BRIEFING: Polycentricity in European spatial planning: from an analytical tool to a normative agenda," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(8), pages 979-999, December.
    8. Bernard H. Siegan, 1983. "Land Use Without Zoning," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 297-300, August.
    9. Wheaton, William C., 1998. "Land Use and Density in Cities with Congestion," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 258-272, March.
    10. Bertaud, Alain & Brueckner, Jan K., 2005. "Analyzing building-height restrictions: predicted impacts and welfare costs," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 109-125, March.
    11. Masahisa Fujita, 2010. "The Evolution Of Spatial Economics: From Thünen To The New Economic Geography," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 61(1), pages 1-32, March.
    12. Barr, Jason & Cohen, Jeffrey P., 2014. "The floor area ratio gradient: New York City, 1890–2009," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 110-119.
    13. Pakawan Chotchaiwong & Saowanee Wijitkosum, 2019. "Predicting Urban Expansion and Urban Land Use Changes in Nakhon Ratchasima City Using a CA-Markov Model under Two Different Scenarios," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-16, September.
    14. Yuanyuan Ma & Yunzi Yang & Hongzan Jiao, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of Urban Built Environment on Public Emotions Based on Social Media Data: A Case Study of Wuhan," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-24, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Jan K. Brueckner & Shihe Fu & Yizhen Gu & Junfu Zhang, 2017. "Measuring the Stringency of Land Use Regulation: The Case of China's Building Height Limits," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 99(4), pages 663-677, July.
    2. Roland Füss & Jan A. Koller & Alois Weigand, 2021. "Determining Land Values from Residential Rents," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-29, March.
    3. Ning Wang & Zhigang Chen & Tianshu Li & Mengjia Zhen, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Pattern Evolution and Influence Mechanism of Urban Vertical Expansion: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Borck, Rainald, 2016. "Will skyscrapers save the planet? Building height limits and urban greenhouse gas emissions," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 13-25.
    5. Fuess, Roland & Koller, Jan A. & Weigand, Alois, 2017. "Best Land Use with Negative Externalities: Determining Land Values from Residential Rents," Working Papers on Finance 1705, University of St. Gallen, School of Finance, revised May 2019.
    6. Hirte, Georg & Rhee, Hyok-Joo, 2016. "Regulation versus Taxation," CEPIE Working Papers 05/16, Technische Universität Dresden, Center of Public and International Economics (CEPIE).
    7. Rhee, Hyok-Joo & Yu, Sanggyun & Hirte, Georg, 2014. "Zoning in cities with traffic congestion and agglomeration economies," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 82-93.
    8. Kono, Tatsuhito & Joshi, Kirti Kusum & Kato, Takeaki & Yokoi, Takahisa, 2012. "Optimal regulation on building size and city boundary: An effective second-best remedy for traffic congestion externality," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(4), pages 619-630.
    9. Kono, Tatsuhito & Joshi, Kirti Kusum, 2012. "A new interpretation on the optimal density regulations: Closed and open city," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 223-234.
    10. De Lara, Michel & de Palma, André & Kilani, Moez & Piperno, Serge, 2013. "Congestion pricing and long term urban form: Application to Paris region," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 282-295.
    11. Joshi, Kirti Kusum & Kono, Tatsuhito, 2009. "Optimization of floor area ratio regulation in a growing city," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 502-511, July.
    12. Zhang, Xingxing & Lovati, Marco & Vigna, Ilaria & Widén, Joakim & Han, Mengjie & Gal, Csilla & Feng, Tao, 2018. "A review of urban energy systems at building cluster level incorporating renewable-energy-source (RES) envelope solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 1034-1056.
    13. Cai, Hongbin & Wang, Zhi & Zhang, Qinghua, 2017. "To build above the limit? Implementation of land use regulations in urban China," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 223-233.
    14. Tikoudis, Ioannis & Verhoef, Erik T. & van Ommeren, Jos N., 2018. "Second-best urban tolls in a monocentric city with housing market regulations," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 117(PA), pages 342-359.
    15. Agrawal, David R. & Zhao, Weihua, 2023. "Taxing Uber," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    16. Takayama, Yuki & Kuwahara, Masao, 2017. "Bottleneck congestion and residential location of heterogeneous commuters," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 65-79.
    17. Fournier, Nicholas, 2021. "Hybrid pedestrian and transit priority zoning policies in an urban street network: Evaluating network traffic flow impacts with analytical approximation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 254-274.
    18. Yidi Wang & Ying Fan & Zan Yang, 2022. "Challenges, Experience, and Prospects of Urban Renewal in High-Density Cities: A Review for Hong Kong," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.
    19. Tatsuhito Kono & Hiroya Kawaguchi, 2017. "Cordon Pricing and Land‐Use Regulation," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 119(2), pages 405-434, April.
    20. Jedwab, Remi & Barr, Jason & Brueckner, Jan K., 2022. "Cities Without Skylines: Worldwide Building-Height Gaps and their Possible Determinants and Implications," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).

    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:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:423-:d:1059127. 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.