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The Impact of Smart City Policies on City Resilience: An Evaluation of 282 Chinese Cities

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  • Yahong Feng

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Jie Wang

    (School of Management, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China)

  • Tianlun Zhang

    (School of Public Policy and Management, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

Abstract

This study uses four dimensions, namely social resilience, economic resilience, infrastructure resilience, and ecological resilience, to construct an index system for urban resilience. The subject data came from the panel data of 282 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2020. We selected a multiperiod double-difference model to study the effects of smart city pilot policies on macro-urban resilience. By conducting parallel-trend tests and selecting appropriate robustness tests, this study drew the following relevant conclusion: smart city pilot policies can have a positive effect on the urban resilience level. These policies exert their influence by facilitating industrial structure upgrading, which plays a partial mediating role. Considering different city area distributions and city scales, smart city pilot policies can have significant heterogeneity in their enhancement of urban resilience. The effect is pronounced in the “east > central > west” states and is more likely to have a significant impact on small- and medium-sized cities. Therefore, promoting the scope of smart city pilots, strengthening the intermediary role of industrial structure upgrading, and implementing differentiated policies for different regions and city sizes are important for sustainable urban development.

Suggested Citation

  • Yahong Feng & Jie Wang & Tianlun Zhang, 2024. "The Impact of Smart City Policies on City Resilience: An Evaluation of 282 Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:19:p:8669-:d:1493901
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Yufang Shi & Tianlun Zhang & Yufeng Jiang, 2023. "Digital Economy, Technological Innovation and Urban Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yahui Chen & Yi An & Zixun Nie & Yuanying Chi & Xinyue Jia, 2025. "Impact of Green Financial Reform on Urban Economic Resilience—A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on Green Financial Reform and Innovation Pilot Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-32, July.
    2. Ming Guo & Yang Zhou, 2025. "Boosting Sustainable Urban Development: How Smart Cities Improve Emergency Management—Evidence from 275 Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-27, July.

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