City size distribution, city growth and urbanisation in China

Cen, Yan (2015). City size distribution, city growth and urbanisation in China. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis explores three topics within the broad area of urban growth and environment in China, city size distribution, city growth pattern and the environment impacts of city growth. The research is firstly motivated by two key stylized facts- the well-known Zipf's law for cities (which states that the number of cities of size greater than S is proportional to 1/S, i.e. the rank of a city is inversely correlated with its size) and Gibrat's law for cities (which states that city growth rate is independent of its size). Thus Chapter 3 and 4 examine the evolution of city size distribution by testing for Zipf’s law and Gibrat’s law in China from 1879 to 2009 (number of cities varies over time). Chapter 5 thereafter investigates the growth pattern of Chinese cities by testing for the sequential city growth (Cuberes, 2009). Given the concern of the environment impacts of city growth, Chapter 6 examines the impact of city size on local air quality using 30 major cities in China from 2003 to 2012.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):