Urbanization, Urban Form and Adaptation: A Comparison of Four U.S. and Chinese Cities

Abstract

This chapter explores the urban development histories of four Chinese and U.S. cities: Chengdu, Shenzhen, Phoenix and Las Vegas. These cities experienced rapid population growth at different phases after World War II, and aggressively pursued economic growth through a mix of development strategies: national-level investments, programs to promote targeted industries and local entrepreneurship, and deregulation policies designed to build comparative advantage. All four cities have sprawled broadly across their surrounding landscapes. Their patterns of urban expansion are organized both by the geography of their physical settings and local institutional and economic processes such as the investment in satellite settlements around Chengdu. As a result of these rapid and dispersed growth patterns, all four regions are encountering resource constraints including water availability, loss of agricultural land, and access to appropriately-configured locations for green spaces and infrastructure. The long-term livability of these cities, and their viability as engines for economic growth, may depend on their institutional capacities to manage shortages of key natural resources.