Transitional Spatial Structure with Development of Economic Clusters: The Case of Beijing
Publication: Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 146, Issue 2
Abstract
The world economy has witnessed the proliferation of economic clusters and the growth of transitioning economies. This study attempts to further understand the roles that economic clusters play in the evolving urban economic space in a Chinese transitional city from the perspectives of regional industrial restructuring and urban spatial transformation. An exploratory approach is applied that combines a factor analysis and spatial data analysis to examine the transitioning process of Beijing's spatial-economic development between 1987 and 2002. This was the period when substantial economic and spatial restructuring happened in the city since the transition from a planned economy to a market economy started in 1978. Two spatial-economic models were derived to illustrate this transitioning process from a manufacturing-driven structure to a clustered service-driven structure. The key drivers analyzed include institutional reforms, market economy mechanisms, and global forces. The researchers argue that this cluster approach can advance the theories on transitional urban restructuring as applied to contemporary city development.
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Acknowledgments
The research was sponsored by a grant from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA19040402), the Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 41530751), the support from Early Career Talent Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences “Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS” (No. 2014042), and Kezhen Talent Program of IGSNRR, CAS (2016RC101).
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Published In
Journal of Urban Planning and Development
Volume 146 • Issue 2 • June 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 16, 2018
Accepted: Aug 28, 2019
Published online: Mar 26, 2020
Published in print: Jun 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 26, 2020
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