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作者

Yue Du

来源

URBAN GEOGRAPHY,Vol.40,Issue9,P.1231-1250

语言

英文

关键字

Urban infrastructure funding,local growth coalitions,relocation programs,China

作者单位

Department of Sociology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

摘要

The Chinese State has addressed the dilemma between urban growth and farmland loss by launching mass peasant relocation programs. By moving peasants into high-rises and reclaiming their living space, arable lands are created to counterbalance the farmland loss. However, the current infrastructure funding model, which relies on local government’s bank loans, falls short of supporting the relocation programs. This paper explores this latest phase of urbanization in China by examining relocation programs in two counties in Chengdu, Sichuan and Shangqiu, Henan – before and after the transition to private investment. The paper reveals that private investors are becoming the main funders of relocation programs, and that the transition to private investment in relocation programs resulted in power reshuffle within the local growth coalition, compromises by the local government and consequently the exacerbation of peasant conditions. The paper concludes by reflecting on the social consequences of the transition, specifically benefit encroachment and risk transfer.KEYWORDS: Urban infrastructure funding, local growth coalitions, relocation programs, ChinaAcknowledgmentsThe author would particularly like to thank interviewees among the relocated peasant households, as well as officials in land bureaus, without whose help this paper could not have been written. She owes special thanks to Gay Seidman for guidance and comments. She also thanks Gary Green, Jane Collins, Sida Liu, Kris Olds, Xuefei Ren, Deborah Davis, and Michael Goldman for their helpful advices and comments. She would also like to express her thanks to two anonymous reviewers and to the editor, Kevin Ward.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.Additional informationFundingThis work was supported byChiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange[DD033-A-16]