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Identifying Organizational and Contractual Drivers behind Subway Construction Accidents in China: A Tale of Three Cities

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  • Yongchi Ma
  • Martin de Jong
  • Joop Koppenjan

Abstract

In most Chinese metropolitan areas, ambitious investment programs in new urban subway networks are underway. The safety record of this nation-wide program is rather disturbing. Official reports have been drafted on the technical, organizational, and regulatory causes for the accidents that have occurred, identifying the violation of safety and labor regulations. In this article we will take this analysis one step further by systematically mapping behavioral patterns among involved organizations and relate them to the underlying configuration of institutional factors. This article builds on the existing debate on Rasmussen's concept "drift to safety boundaries," problematizing the existing institutional incentives imposed on parties involved. These incentives drive them to trade off safety for the benefit of other values, thus crossing the safety boundary. Trade-offs in subway construction accidents in Hangzhou, Beijing, and Dalian, are investigated and compared, in order to identify the institutional patterns underlying them.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongchi Ma & Martin de Jong & Joop Koppenjan, 2013. "Identifying Organizational and Contractual Drivers behind Subway Construction Accidents in China: A Tale of Three Cities," Journal of Urban Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 39-64, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:cjutxx:v:20:y:2013:i:3:p:39-64
    DOI: 10.1080/10630732.2013.809229
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    Cited by:

    1. Qin, Feifei & Zhang, Xiaoning & Zhou, Qiang, 2014. "Evaluating the impact of organizational patterns on the efficiency of urban rail transit systems in China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 89-99.
    2. Mu, Rui & de Jong, Martin & Ma, Yongchi & Xi, Bao, 2015. "Trading off public values in High-Speed Rail development in China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 66-77.

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