Growth and Change最新文献

This paper examines the spatial-temporal evolution of urban spatial structure across 269 Chinese prefectural cities from 2002 to 2019. Our analysis identifies a consistent trend toward a more polycentric configuration in the 25 Chinese mega-cities during this period, primarily due to population growth and a supportive policy environment. However, the evolutionary pathways of small- and medium-sized cities unfolded in a rather complex and diverse manner, with some becoming more polycentric while the majority adhering to a monocentric trajectory. In these cases, population growth is usually associated with a more monocentric pattern, characterized by rapid expansion of the urban core, while polycentric development is primarily attributed to specific spatial policies that support the emergence of subcenters. We conclude that polycentric development, while potentially suitable for mega-cities to alleviate diseconomies of scale, may be less appropriate for small- and medium-sized cities as it may constrain growth associated with agglomeration economies. We suggest that the development and implementation of regional spatial policy should be considerate of local historical paths and contextual factors. Finally, we propose a stylized framework to more accurately reflect the diverse and complex nature of urban spatial structure evolution in Chinese prefectural cities.

This paper examines U.S. female fertility during 2005–2019. Small areas had higher fertility rates than large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) during each year. Both experienced fertility declines between 2005 and 2019. However, decreased fertility was more pronounced for large MSAs, and the fertility gap between large and small areas widened considerably. Investigation by age group reveals that diverging fertility across large and small areas is driven by women ages 25–34. We also use multivariate regression analysis for ages 25–34 to consider relationships between individual-level and area-level characteristics and spatial divergence in fertility. Employment patterns, foreign-born status, and local housing costs are notable factors.

This paper explores the extent to which firms perceive to benefit from university-industry collaborations in their innovation processes, building on survey data from 232 Norwegian firms. We find that firms experience not only direct innovation benefits from collaborations, but also indirect benefits in the form of closer proximity to universities, which can in turn improve future collaboration. We compare the reported outputs from various types of collaboration, finding that firms engaging mainly in research-oriented interactions more often report that collaborations result in innovation than those engaging in education-oriented or more informal collaborations. However, education-oriented and informal collaborations are equally important for building cognitive, organizational, institutional and social proximities between firms and universities.

In Israel, regional clusters serve as a mechanism for regional development, achieved through the integration of interests, pooling of resources, knowledge transfer, and the facilitation of agglomerations. This study gains insights from two EU regional development programs, LEADER and URBACT, to potentially benefit the regional clusters in Galilee, Israel's northern periphery. The research examined five municipal clusters in Galilee, aiming to identify their distinct characteristics and place them within a wider theoretical and comparative framework. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with the clusters' CEOs and an analysis of pertinent policy documents. The findings suggest that Galilee's municipal clusters encounter challenges similar to those faced by the EU's LEADER and URBACT programs. These include establishing regional networks, achieving recognition for their capabilities, and cultivating trust and cooperation gradually. The CEOs shared their experiences in navigating the challenges posed by wary mayors and government ministries. The recognized success of these clusters, as evidenced in policy documents, could signify a shift from Israel's traditional centralist political culture to a more decentralized power structure.

In the urbanisation stage of bilateral urban–rural interaction, China is adopting various policies to achieve rural revitalisation and provide diverse destinations to which farmers can migrate. Most previous studies have focused on urban destinations; thus, new countryside locations are not as well understood in this context. This study focused on first migration practices to examine new countryside destinations for farmers in China. This study established a conceptual framework to explain the diverse migration destination options based on three aspects: human capital, economic characteristics, and social characteristics. Based on survey data from farming households in a traditional agriculture area in Xinxiang, a multiple logit model was used to examine why new countryside destinations were adaptive first migration destinations. The results indicated that farmers were influenced by land capital and low initial household incomes. Specifically, many farmers were attracted to new countryside locations close to their original villages because of the need for cultivated land and farming, thus providing a logical first move in the rural–urban migration process. Poorer households were willing to first improve their living conditions in this way. This suggests that new countryside construction can help achieve rural revitalisation.

In this paper, we advance the empirical literature on US state and local fiscal policymaking by using the synthetic control method (SCM) to create pairwise matches for states in subsequent regression analysis of the relationships between state and local fiscal policies and several state economic outcomes. Additional contributions include the use of principal component analysis to construct broader narratives of state economic performance and to reduce the dimensionality of the characteristics used in SCM matching, while the regressions also include variables to control for post-matching economic shocks. Compared to conventional regression analysis, the SCM matching-regression approach better addresses potential endogeneity, reduces interpolation bias, and creates fiscal policy measures that better reflect policy differences. The SCM-matched regressions produce more statistically significant relationships between state and local fiscal variables and economic outcomes than do the conventional unmatched regressions, suggesting improved identification of state and local fiscal policy effects on economic outcomes. Robust relationships found include negative economic effects of the own-source revenue burden and property taxes. Consistent with the existing literature, the estimated fiscal policy effects are quantitatively small and unlikely to drive differences in state economic performance.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have been significantly impacted by environmental regulation (ER). This study is aiming at analyzing the ER effect on the FDI inflows. By using the data of 2008–2018, we use Three-stages least square (3SLS) method to assess the connection between FDI inflows and ER. The study results reveal that in Chinese industries, technological innovation (TI) is stipulated by the ER, and as a result, FDI has been engrossed. The results further reveal that TI has been enhanced by capital penetration, and a positive effect is perceived between TI and FDI. The findings of our study also show that there is a significant association between foreign capital (FC) inflows and TI, which indicates that technological policies are effective and advanced environmental policies would intensify the relevant policies between firms. Based on the study outcomes, this research proposes some policy suggestions for constructing a attuned policy system of environmental protection and FDI by regulating the implementation of conforming strategies.

Economic resilience focuses on how localities react and respond to shocks. A recent conceptual advancement, known as the agency perspective and rooted in evolutionary thinking, highlights that economic actors (e.g., practitioners, firms, and institutions) play an essential role in localities' resilience. However, empirical investigations into the role of economic actors have been scarce. To address this shortcoming, in this study we conducted in-depth interviews with 22 practitioners (economic development officials) from various cities in Ontario, Canada. Through an evolutionary lens, we examine practitioners' perceptions of and responses to endogenous shocks—notably, major industrial plant closures over the past 20 years. We find that practitioners influence localities' resilience through each dimension of the resilience process. Most notably, they support their localities' adaption through various short- and long-term adaptive strategies. Also, we find that economic actors have different capacities and resources at their disposal to respond to shocks depending on the size of their city and its geographical location. Regarding the latter, we reiterate a commonly noted north-south divide in the province. In addition, we find that economic actors are constrained by multi-scalar policies, and thus operate in the confines of existing power and political structures.

This paper delves into the spillover effects of fiscal decentralization on access to essential social services within communes in Burkina Faso. It employs a Dynamic Spatial Durbin Model that comprehensively incorporates temporal dynamics, spatial interdependence concerning the dependent variable, and spatial interdependence concerning exogenous variables. The analysis covers 280 municipalities, which represents 80% of the municipalities in Burkina Faso, over the period 2011–2020. The findings substantiate the presence of spillover effects stemming from fiscal decentralization on the availability of fundamental social services. However, the nature of these spatial effects hinges on the particular type of fiscal resources and local public goods under consideration. Notably, both capital expenditures and decentralized cooperation resources yield short-term and long-term direct as well as indirect enhancements to the quality of education and accessibility to potable water. On the other hand, self-generated revenue and operational grants augment water accessibility but bear no impact on educational quality. The outcomes put forth imply that municipal councils should concurrently bolster resource mobilization by fortifying decentralized cooperation and widening the tax base. Simultaneously, the introduction of flexible tax payment mechanisms is advisable.