The Economic and Environmental Impacts of Urbanization in China

Abstract

With a transformation from traditional, agricultural economies to industrial economies, urbanization, the process of people migrating from rural to urban places, has increased substantially in China, particularly after the introduction of the reform and opening-up policies. China’s development of the economy has been promoted, while related environmental problems also exist and could hinder social and economic development in China. This paper critically investigated the economic impacts of urbanization, including the changes in GDP per capita, economic output, income level, and urban-rural income gap. Environmental impacts related to the economic growth and urbanization process, such as the impact on temperature, CO2 emissions, PM 2.5 concentration, water pollution, and environment-related health risks, were also analyzed. Finally, policies and suggestions regarding promoting the sustainable development of urbanization were discussed, such as controlling population growth and the intensity of urban development, adjusting energy and industrial structures, encouraging technological innovation and education, and considering future resource capacity.