Restructuring for Growth in Development Zones, China: A Systematic Literature and Policy Review (1984–2022)

Abstract

China’s development zones have been enjoying a process of dramatic growth and restructuring since the start of the new millennium, which has been extensively documented in the literature. The growth stems from the increased scope and expansion in demand created by China’s economic growth, as well as gradual global economic reconfiguration, which has, in itself, become a factor in advancing the country’s spiraling economic growth. This article examines the trajectory of the growth and restructuring of China’s development zones since 1984, by reviewing critical policies and their measures and effects, as well as academic research in this field, focusing on transitional stages, features and mechanisms. Based on different academic viewpoints, the work sets out a three-pronged conceptual framework composed of institutional transition, industrial evolution and land use transformation to systematize the growth process. In recent years, the restructuring of development zones has come to be considered as a comprehensive and complex issue, and its main challenges arise from factors such as overcoming outdated institutional arrangements, strengthening market participation, promoting high-end industrial agglomeration and breaking the bottleneck of inefficient land use. This article uses a multi-dimensional, logical approach to address the growth of development zones, and examines relevant practices and studies so as to explore the deeply rooted correlations between different dimensions in more depth and to examine the innate and unchanged logic involved in the restructuring of development zones.

Evolution in Patterns of Urban Water Consumption Accompanying Socio-Economic Development

“…For example, GDP is the product of P t and GDP c , but identified influencing factors should be dependent. Several studies on the urban development stage have highlighted that the GDP per capita, urbanization rate, and tertiary industry tend to play more important roles in the socio-economy of a developed city [44][45][46]. Therefore, GDP c , R tg , and R u were identified as the main factors influencing UWC in the present study.…”

Assessing the eco-efficiency of industrial parks recycling transformation: Evidence from data envelopment analysis (DEA) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)

“…Typically, existing studies employ indicators such as resource productivity, energy productivity, and environmental performance, which fail to systematically reflect the intricate material flows and cannot accurately evaluate outcomes with multiple inputs and outputs. As noted by Yang et al (2022), IPRT is a complex transformation that involves political, social, and economic factors. Consequently, a more comprehensive and systematic approach is required to assess the eco-efficiency of IPRT practices and investigate the complex mechanisms involved (Jessop and Sum, 2000).…”

Special Economic Zone, Carbon Emissions and the Mechanism Role of Green Technology Vertical Spillover: Evidence from Chinese Cities

“…Since 2009, the government’s policy guidance for SEZs has focused on innovation, coordination, being green, openness, and sharing, with a particular emphasis on building green parks. Subsequently, the China State Council launched “Opinions on Promoting the Transition, Upgrading and Innovative Development of National Economic and Technology Development Zones” and “Opinions on Promoting the Reform and Innovative Development of Development Zones” in 2014 and 2017, respectively [ 48 ]. These policies emphasize the need to encourage enterprises’ cooperation and innovation, extend the industrial chain, and enhance the agglomeration effect.…”