Towering sustainability: Unraveling the complex effects of skyscrapers on urban resilience

Abstract

This study examines the impact of skyscrapers on urban resilience in China using a panel dataset of 295 cities from 2002 to 2018. Urban resilience is evaluated across economic, social, ecological, and infrastructure dimensions, focusing on the impact of skyscrapers' quantity and height. The study finds that skyscrapers have a positive effect on urban resilience. Specifically, one standard deviation increase in the skyscraper index (1.010) corresponds to a 0.229 increase in urban resilience, approximately 23% of its own standard deviation. The qualitative result remains robust across different model specifications and instrumental variable estimation methods. Mechanism tests reveal that skyscrapers drive economic and societal shifts, such as increased urban density and diverse populations, which enhance urban resilience. Conversely, they present challenges to ecological resilience. The paper also finds that the skyscraper effect is complex, characterized by the nonlinear, heterogeneous, and persistent effects of skyscrapers. This study highlights the importance of balancing economic growth with social and ecological sustainability in urban development. The findings also suggest that future research should continue to explore the complex relationships between urban spatial patterns, economic resilience, and ecological sustainability to support the development of sustainable and resilient cities.