Making Cities: Administrative Restructuring and Urbanization in China
Thursday, April 3, 2025 12:00–1:00 PM
Description
With Xiaozhong Sun, Visiting Assistant Professor of GeographyThis study explores the impact of administrative adjustments on local economic development in post-reform China by examining the consequences of upgrading counties to county-level cities (CheXianSheShi), a process that significantly alters local governance structures. Using advanced econometric techniques and a unique spatial dataset, the research reveals unexpected negative effects on economic growth rates in upgraded areas. The findings highlight the complex interplay between administrative restructuring, fiscal decentralization, and economic performance, demonstrating that such political processes can have unintended consequences on local development. This talk will discuss the implications of these findings for the political-driven urbanization process and the institutional design of effective decentralization strategies for territorial making in China and beyond.