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Zhengzhou – Political economy of an emerging Chinese megacity

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Xuefeng Wang

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).


Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Zhengzhou is one of the fastest growing cities in China, but has attracted comparatively little international attention. This paper charts the contemporary transformation of Zhengzhou and highlights some of the challenges that arise from its recent growth. It demonstrates the rise of Zhengzhou from small town to megacity. This transformation has occurred in less than seven decades with Zhengzhou benefiting from its geographic importance and its position as a provincial capital in China's hierarchical system of government. While western accounts typically focus on the role of market forces and agglomeration economies in explaining the rise of megacities, we show the role of political decisions in explaining the growth of Zhengzhou as an international centre for manufacturing, commerce and logistics. The paper concludes that innovation and reform in regional governance, particularly to deal with emerging challenges, are necessary, if it is to develop a well-functioning megacity.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Wang X, Tomaney J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cities

Year: 2019

Volume: 84

Pages: 104-111

Print publication date: 01/01/2019

Online publication date: 03/08/2018

Acceptance date: 30/07/2018

Date deposited: 24/08/2018

ISSN (print): 0264-2751

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2018.07.011

DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2018.07.011


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
ES/J019232/1ESRC

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