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Creativity and Inequality: The Dual Path of China’s Urban Development

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Urbanization and Urban Governance in China

Part of the book series: Governing China in the 21st Century ((GC21))

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Abstract

This chapter sets out to analyze urban development and branding strategies for emerging global cities in China. It takes as its starting point that there has been a shift from a focus on economic dimensions towards a global city discourse in which various dimensions are at play, including economic, cultural, social and environmental. The empirical focus is five large, globalizing Chinese cities, namely Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The findings show that multidimensionality, and hence being a center of not only economy and finance but of multiple elements (such as those pertaining to culture, social factors, and the environment) increasingly defines emerging global cities in China, as well as tomorrow’s global cities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Cathy Yang Liu

  2. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Wen Xie

Authors
  1. Cathy Yang Liu
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  2. Wen Xie
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Chinese Public Administration Research School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Lin Ye

Appendix. Description of Variables and Data Sources

Appendix. Description of Variables and Data Sources

Variables

Description

Source

Inequality index

Theil’s T index

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

Creative sector

The percentage of urban private employment in the creative sector

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

Manufacturing

The percentage of urban private employment in manufacturing

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

Migration

The percentage of population without official local registration status (hukou)

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2005, 2008, and 2000 census

Trade

The ratio of total value of imports and exports trade to gross regional product

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

High-tech industries

The ratio of gross output of high-tech industries to gross regional industrial product

China Statistical Yearbooks and China Statistics Yearbook on High-Technology Industry 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

State-owned enterprises

The percentage of urban employment in state owned enterprises (SOE)

China Statistical Yearbooks, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008

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Liu, C.Y., Xie, W. (2018). Creativity and Inequality: The Dual Path of China’s Urban Development. In: Ye, L. (eds) Urbanization and Urban Governance in China. Governing China in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57824-2_6

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