*2014-2015 (Year Awarded)
The location choice and spatial organization patterns of urban informal
economies in big cities
Principle Investigator: Dr. Hao Pu
Amount Awarded: RMB¢D230,000
Abstract
Informal economic activities are those commercial or service
businesses that are not officially recorded in any national accounts
for purposes of taxation or social security contributions. These
activities consist of not only informal businesses located in fixed
premises in rural-urban interface areas and specific urban sections
such as urban villages, but also unlicensed street vendors roaming
in the city core. These businesses are usually opposed by
authorities because they often lead to violations of urban planning
and management regulations, tax evasion, inferior products, and
safety concerns. However, informal or unregulated economic
developments are entrepreneurial endeavors for individuals or
collectives who cannot afford fixed premises and are sources of
income for those who lack access to formal jobs. They also provide
affordable goods and services for the marginal groups. In order to
mitigate the negative impact of informal economic activities on
urban growth, this research aims at exploring the development of
various types of informal economic activities in big cities in China
and analysing the location choice and spatial organization patterns
of these informal activities. With case studies in Shenzhen and
Nanjing, the determinants of the location choice of informal
economic developments will be uncovered using spatial analysis and
spatial econometric models. Based on the research findings on the
location choice and spatial organization patterns of informal
economic developments, optimizing strategies and methodologies for
urban planning and governance will be devised. The findings of this
research will contribute to urban planning and policy making in
coping with the current state and future development of informal
urban development, and help in the effective allocation of
commercial establishments, especially those businesses at the lower
end of the economic spectrum.
*2013-2014 (Year Awarded)
A Time Geography Study on the Subjective Well-being of Urban Chinese: Beijing and Guangzhou in Comparison
Principle Investigator: Prof. Donggen Wang
Amount Awarded: RMB¢D600,000
Abstract
Promoting citizens’ subjective wellbeing is considered an important measure to social cohesion and social sustainability. It has also become one of the most important objectives of development in Urban China today. Subjective wellbeing has been a hot topic across a variety of disciplines including psychology, economics and sociology. Though lag behind other disciplines, geographers have started to pay attention to issues related to wellbeing and life satisfaction. This proposed research intends to make a contribution to the studies on subjective wellbeing from a geography perspective. The study will adopt the time-geography framework and investigate the interrelations between individuals’ subjective wellbeing, daily activities, built environment and social network. Case studies will be conducted in Beijing and Guangzhou, respectively the representative city in Northern and Southern China. This study may open a new chapter for time geography research and provide a new perspective for China urban studies. Findings of this research may provide scientific justifications for Chinese cities to design policies with the objectives of improving citizens’ quality of life.
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