Further Discussion on “The Debate Between Dispersion and Re-agglomeration”: Review of Urban Population Density Regulation Policy of China’s Large Cities Under the Multidimensional Empirical Studies of Economics
Abstract：
In recent years, the empirical economic research from different perspectives generally argues that China’s large cities should re-agglomerate population to achieve the density effect, which has led to a policy decision divergence of “re-agglomeration or dispersion” with the urban planners. Therefore, this study reviews the new configuration of population density control in Chinese cities and related statistical facts and found that the population density in the core areas of representative cities has rapidly declined, which may impose adverse effects on the development of the service industry, consumer economy, and domestic demand. Based on reviewing classic economic theories, this study introduces new discussions on urban density by economic schools, including the Consumer City Theory, which emphasizes the important role of urban population density on the demand and consumption side. Although urban governance requires the integration of multidimensional performance such as economy, ecology, and society for planning and decision-making, at the current stage, China’s economy is facing the main pressure of “insufficient domestic demand”. Urban planners should fully pay attention to relevant academic findings in economics and critically review the potential negative effects of China’s urban population planning and control policies.In recent years, the empirical economic research from different perspectives generally argues that China’s large cities should re-agglomerate population to achieve the density effect, which has led to a policy decision divergence of “re-agglomeration or dispersion” with the urban planners. Therefore, this study reviews the new configuration of population density control in Chinese cities and related statistical facts and found that the population density in the core areas of representative cities has rapidly declined, which may impose adverse effects on the development of the service industry, consumer economy, and domestic demand. Based on reviewing classic economic theories, this study introduces new discussions on urban density by economic schools, including the Consumer City Theory, which emphasizes the important role of urban population density on the demand and consumption side. Although urban governance requires the integration of multidimensional performance such as economy, ecology, and society for planning and decision-making, at the current stage, China’s economy is facing the main pressure of “insufficient domestic demand”. Urban planners should fully pay attention to relevant academic findings in economics and critically review the potential negative effects of China’s urban population planning and control policies.