Abstract
Along with unprecedented urbanization in the last few decades, cities have experienced rapid social and economic transformation in China. A major challenge facing urban authorities in the immediate future is how to plan and govern cities such that they can serve as inclusive systems where everyone is enabled and empowered to fully participate in and contribute to socioeconomic life. A first step towards realizing this is to conceptualize an integrated framework that allows analysts and decision-makers to delineate, evaluate, and guide the development of these cities towards inclusiveness. In this study, we conducted a conceptual analysis of urban inclusiveness and then proposed a multidimensional framework for the evaluation of inclusive development. This is followed by the presentation of the case of Xiong’an, for which inclusive development indicators (IDIs) were selected. By comparing the state before the establishment of Xiong’an with its current development progress, and analyzing the area’s management structure and policy measures, the inclusive development challenges are identified. Subsequently, suggestions are given on how to direct Xiong’an toward higher levels of inclusiveness, including offering equal access to public services and employment opportunities, preserving environmental health and sustainable use of natural resources through waste recycling, and encouraging public participation in decision-making to bring higher levels of inclusion within reach.
Highlights
Over the past 40 years, China’s GDP growth per annum has averaged at nearly 10 percent, making it the fastest sustained expansion by any major economy in history [1,2]. This has enabled more than 800 million people to elevate themselves out of poverty, while the urbanization rate has increased by 42.68 percent [3]. In this same period China’s social Gini coefficient climbed from 0.2 to 0.468, which is much higher than the average level of the OECD countries [4]
Some special economic zones (SEZs) have developed into world-class metropolises, population and economy-wise
This study aimed at describing the way in which positive changes can be made, sustained, and built upon towards inclusive urban development
Summary
Over the past 40 years, China’s GDP growth per annum has averaged at nearly 10 percent, making it the fastest sustained expansion by any major economy in history [1,2] This has enabled more than 800 million people to elevate themselves out of poverty, while the urbanization rate has increased by 42.68 percent (from 17.92% to 60.60%) [3]. High urban densities reduce transaction costs, make public spending on infrastructure and services more economically viable, and facilitate generation and diffusion of knowledge, all of which are important factors for growth This magnificent growth generated issues of immigration, transport and congestion, environmental pollution, and uneven distribution of resources [5,6]. The World Bank and Development Research Center of the State Council of China published a joint report ‘Urban China: Toward Efficient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Urbanization’ in 2014, officially advocating the idea of inclusive urbanization and urban–rural integration [7]
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