Progress of China's new-type urbanization construction since 2014: A preliminary assessment. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Mingxing; Liu, Weidong; Lu, Dadao; Chen, Hao; Ye, Chao
• Is Part Of: Cities. Volume 78(2018)
• Page Start: 180
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: New-type urbanization plan -- Implementation -- Policy -- Progress -- Assessment -- China; City planning -- Periodicals; Urban policy -- Periodicals; 711.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2018.02.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-2751

Abstract

Abstract: The demand to measure the progress of China's new-type urbanization construction appears to be increasing due to its profound impact on both China and global sustainable urbanization. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the progress since the issuance of the National New-type Urbanization Plan (NUP) in March 2014, and it is unclear how to assess the comprehensive new-type urbanization construction, which has multiple dimensions and various themes. To close this gap, a new three-stage framework is proposed. This article outlines and classifies the up-to-date policies and actions since the release of the NUP and provides a preliminary assessment of China's new-type urbanization construction from the aspects of population urbanization, land urbanization, economic urbanization and comprehensiveness. The results show that China unfolded a very comprehensive top-down campaign of new-type urbanization construction. The strict urban-rural dual household registration system has started to be changed into a residence permit system. However, the implementation of the NUP is also facing many challenges. The most important thing is that the bottom-up factors should be more emphasized and combined with top-down factors in future plan implementations. This is to say, peasant-workers will need to be taken into proper consideration. People-oriented new-type urbanization should position peasant-workers at the center. Also, China's transformation of new-type urbanization is comprehensive, complex, dynamic, and long term. It should not be expected that this transformation will be completed during the short six-year planning period. Highlights: A new framework is developed to analyze China's new-type urbanization. A comprehensive assessment of China's new-type urbanization Shows the challenges and the bottom-up factors need to be taken into account The migrant workers will be the key to achieve the aim of new-type urbanization.