Virtual built-up land transfers embodied in China's interregional trade. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Shan; Wang, Yao; Shen, Geoffrey Q.P.; Zhang, Bo; Wang, Hao
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 94(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Virtual built-up land transfer -- Interregional trade -- Multi-regional input-output model -- China; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104536
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: China's urbanization has led to increased demands for built-up land. How China's built-up land meets domestic needs through trade is identified. Built-up land distribution, land footprint, and virtual land transfer are analyzed. Three economic regions of China attracted a great deal of virtual land flows. Current policies are effective but cross-regional cooperation is needed. Abstract: China's vibrant interregional trade has widened the gaps between production and consumption, which transfers the pressure of built-up land resources caused by population expansion and supply/demand imbalances. This study comprehensively analyzes China's built-up land use issues, considering the complex interregional trading network. Accordingly, the virtual built-up land transfers embodied in China's interregional trade is illustrated, based on a multi-regional input-output analysis. In China, the national average of virtual built-up land intensity illustrates a downward trend. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the intensive built-up land utilization policies implemented in many parts of the country. Three economic regions of China with the most active trade activities (the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, and Guangdong Province) have attracted many virtual land flows to relieve the built-up land resource pressures caused by rapid economic development. These flows have mainly derived from neighboring provinces. Considering the detail virtual built-up land transfer profiles embodied in China's interregional trade, policymakers must collaborate to formulate differentiated policies and optimize built-up land types that combine industrial structure and trade patterns.