Examining Spatial Heterogeneity Effects of Landscape and Environment on the Residential Location Choice of the Highly Educated Population in Guangzhou, China

Yang Wang,Jing Qin,Kangmin Wu,Changjian Wang,Hong’Ou Zhang

doi:10.3390/su12093869

Abstract

The residential location choice of the highly educated population is an important consideration to construct a livable city. While landscape and environment are important factors, few studies have deeply analyzed the spatial heterogeneity effects of landscape and environment on the residential location choices of a highly educated population. Taking Guangzhou as the sample, we built a livability-oriented conceptual framework of landscape and environment, and constructed datasets for highly educated population proportion, landscape, and environment factors, and other influencing factors for Guangzhou’s 1364 communities. Global regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models are used for analysis. The GWR model is more effective than the global regression model. We found spatial heterogeneity in the strength and direction of the relationship between the highly educated population proportion and landscape and environment. We find that landscape and environment exert spatial heterogeneity effects on the residential location choice of the highly educated population in Guangzhou. The conclusions will be of reference value to further understand how the spatial limitations of landscape and environment affect residential location choices. This study will help city managers formulate spatially differentiated environment improvement policies, thereby increasing the city’s sustainable development capabilities.

Highlights

A city is a place of residence, which is both, its main function and the core of its sustainable urban development
Based on the understanding of residential location choice, this study proposes a conceptual framework of livability-oriented landscape and environment
This study establishes a research framework for the highly educated population’s choice of residential locations based on urban landscape and environment. It sets up a dataset of the proportion of highly educated population (PHEP) and its influencing factors in 1364 communities in Guangzhou

Summary

Introduction

A city is a place of residence, which is both, its main function and the core of its sustainable urban development. Goal number 11 mentions the building of “sustainable cities and human settlements.”. In academic research on the area of residence, the choice of residential location has always been a core subject. The characteristics and factors influencing residential location choice vary among different demographics [2]. The highly educated population, which forms a city’s valuable human resource and the basis for its innovative and sustainable development, has become the target of contention for various cities [3,4]. An in-depth understanding of the characteristics and mechanisms of the highly educated population’s choice of residential location helps in attracting talents, and provides an important reference point for improving the competitiveness and sustainable development of cities

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Conclusion