{"title":"特刊导言:城市与经济发展","authors":"Shihe Fu, Junfu Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ise3.70014","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>To a great extent, economic development is urban development. As economies grow, people and firms cluster in cities to take advantage of agglomeration economies, better infrastructure, access to markets and labor, and consumption amenities. Urbanization not only drives productivity gains and enhances consumer welfare but also introduces challenges such as housing affordability, traffic congestion, pollution, and inequality. Understanding these dynamics is essential for promoting efficiency and sustainable development. The evolution of cities is therefore not only a reflection of economic progress but also a key driver of it.</p><p>The field that examines these dynamics—urban economics—focuses on cities and the spatial organization of economic activities. It covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the determinants of city size and growth, the functioning of urban housing and labor markets, transportation systems, land use, public goods provision, urban poverty, segregation, and environmental challenges. Researchers in this field investigate how individuals and firms make location decisions and how their decisions shape the economic and social structure of urban areas.</p><p>A defining feature of research in urban economics is its methodological diversity. Scholars employ both partial and general equilibrium models, conduct reduced-form and structural estimations, and rely on mathematical modeling as well as computer simulations. On the empirical side, quasi-experimental strategies—such as difference-in-differences, spatial regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables—are widely used to identify causality. With the growing availability of geocoded data, remote sensing imagery, granular administrative records, and online big data, researchers increasingly adopt spatial econometrics, machine learning tools, and GIS techniques to uncover complex spatial patterns and effects.</p><p>The field has seen remarkable growth in recent years, propelled by greater data availability, advances in computing power, and methodological innovations inspired by neighboring disciplines such as microeconometrics, labor economics, industrial organization, and international trade. These developments have enabled scholars to revisit classic theories, uncover new stylized facts, and produce sharper, policy-relevant insights.</p><p>What makes urban economic research especially valuable is its direct relevance to real-world challenges. The insights it generates often inform how cities are planned, governed, and improved. For example, research on housing markets informs zoning and land-use regulation; studies of transportation systems guide infrastructure investment and congestion pricing; and work on crime and inequality has implications for public safety and social policies. Several papers in this special issue—including those on fiscal transparency, pandemic-era rental markets, and crime—offer concrete evidence that can help policymakers design more effective interventions. As cities continue to grapple with challenges related to affordability, inequality, and sustainability, the role of urban economics in evidence-based policymaking becomes ever more critical.</p><p>This relevance is especially evident in rapidly developing countries like China, where the swift expansion of cities has profoundly transformed both the economy and society. The pace and magnitude of urban growth in China pose distinctive challenges—from managing migration and infrastructure demands, creating jobs, to promoting equitable development and environmental sustainability. At the same time, China provides a fertile setting for empirical research, thanks to a wealth of social experiments and institutional changes, improved access to administrative and big data, and substantial regional variation in urban experiences. Several contributions in this issue draw on Chinese data, illustrating how place-specific analyses can generate insights that are both locally grounded and globally relevant.</p><p>The papers included here exemplify the breadth of topics and approaches that characterize contemporary research on cities. They address diverse themes such as patterns of foreign direct investment (Qian, Zhang, and Chen), the role of auditing in improving fiscal transparency (Chen and Hu), demand responses to mass shootings (Chen et al.), pandemic-induced shifts in rental markets (Jiang and Shen), the effects of income polarization on crime (Liu, Wang, and Wang), and a theoretical analysis of land rents in an optimally sized city under dynamic conditions (Fu). Together, they demonstrate both the empirical depth and theoretical richness of modern urban economics.</p><p>We hope this special issue will spark new conversations and inspire future research that deepens our understanding of the evolving relationship between cities and economic development. In particular, we would welcome more research on urbanization in Africa and other less-developed countries, where challenges related to data availability, city development, and urban governance are especially pronounced.</p>","PeriodicalId":29662,"journal":{"name":"International Studies of Economics","volume":"20 2","pages":"136-137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ise3.70014","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Introduction to the Special Issue: Cities and Economic Development\",\"authors\":\"Shihe Fu, Junfu Zhang\",\"doi\":\"10.1002/ise3.70014\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<p>To a great extent, economic development is urban development. As economies grow, people and firms cluster in cities to take advantage of agglomeration economies, better infrastructure, access to markets and labor, and consumption amenities. Urbanization not only drives productivity gains and enhances consumer welfare but also introduces challenges such as housing affordability, traffic congestion, pollution, and inequality. Understanding these dynamics is essential for promoting efficiency and sustainable development. The evolution of cities is therefore not only a reflection of economic progress but also a key driver of it.</p><p>The field that examines these dynamics—urban economics—focuses on cities and the spatial organization of economic activities. It covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the determinants of city size and growth, the functioning of urban housing and labor markets, transportation systems, land use, public goods provision, urban poverty, segregation, and environmental challenges. Researchers in this field investigate how individuals and firms make location decisions and how their decisions shape the economic and social structure of urban areas.</p><p>A defining feature of research in urban economics is its methodological diversity. Scholars employ both partial and general equilibrium models, conduct reduced-form and structural estimations, and rely on mathematical modeling as well as computer simulations. On the empirical side, quasi-experimental strategies—such as difference-in-differences, spatial regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables—are widely used to identify causality. With the growing availability of geocoded data, remote sensing imagery, granular administrative records, and online big data, researchers increasingly adopt spatial econometrics, machine learning tools, and GIS techniques to uncover complex spatial patterns and effects.</p><p>The field has seen remarkable growth in recent years, propelled by greater data availability, advances in computing power, and methodological innovations inspired by neighboring disciplines such as microeconometrics, labor economics, industrial organization, and international trade. These developments have enabled scholars to revisit classic theories, uncover new stylized facts, and produce sharper, policy-relevant insights.</p><p>What makes urban economic research especially valuable is its direct relevance to real-world challenges. The insights it generates often inform how cities are planned, governed, and improved. For example, research on housing markets informs zoning and land-use regulation; studies of transportation systems guide infrastructure investment and congestion pricing; and work on crime and inequality has implications for public safety and social policies. Several papers in this special issue—including those on fiscal transparency, pandemic-era rental markets, and crime—offer concrete evidence that can help policymakers design more effective interventions. As cities continue to grapple with challenges related to affordability, inequality, and sustainability, the role of urban economics in evidence-based policymaking becomes ever more critical.</p><p>This relevance is especially evident in rapidly developing countries like China, where the swift expansion of cities has profoundly transformed both the economy and society. The pace and magnitude of urban growth in China pose distinctive challenges—from managing migration and infrastructure demands, creating jobs, to promoting equitable development and environmental sustainability. At the same time, China provides a fertile setting for empirical research, thanks to a wealth of social experiments and institutional changes, improved access to administrative and big data, and substantial regional variation in urban experiences. Several contributions in this issue draw on Chinese data, illustrating how place-specific analyses can generate insights that are both locally grounded and globally relevant.</p><p>The papers included here exemplify the breadth of topics and approaches that characterize contemporary research on cities. 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引用次数: 0
摘要
经济的发展在很大程度上就是城市的发展。随着经济增长,人们和企业聚集在城市,以利用集聚经济、更好的基础设施、市场和劳动力准入以及消费便利设施。城市化不仅推动了生产率的提高,提高了消费者的福利,但也带来了诸如住房负担能力、交通拥堵、污染和不平等等挑战。了解这些动态对于促进效率和可持续发展至关重要。因此,城市的演变不仅是经济进步的反映,也是经济进步的关键驱动力。研究这些动态的领域——城市经济学——侧重于城市和经济活动的空间组织。它涵盖了广泛的主题,包括但不限于城市规模和增长的决定因素,城市住房和劳动力市场的运作,交通系统,土地使用,公共产品提供,城市贫困,隔离和环境挑战。这一领域的研究人员研究个人和企业如何做出区位决策,以及他们的决策如何塑造城市地区的经济和社会结构。城市经济学研究的一个显著特征是其方法的多样性。学者们采用部分和一般平衡模型,进行简化形式和结构估计,并依靠数学建模和计算机模拟。在实证方面,准实验策略——如差异中的差异、空间回归不连续和工具变量——被广泛用于确定因果关系。随着地理编码数据、遥感图像、细粒度管理记录和在线大数据的日益可用性,研究人员越来越多地采用空间计量经济学、机器学习工具和GIS技术来揭示复杂的空间模式和影响。近年来,由于数据可用性的提高、计算能力的进步,以及受微观计量经济学、劳动经济学、产业组织和国际贸易等邻近学科启发的方法创新,该领域取得了显著的增长。这些发展使学者们能够重新审视经典理论,发现新的风格化事实,并产生更尖锐的、与政策相关的见解。城市经济研究之所以特别有价值,是因为它与现实世界的挑战直接相关。它产生的见解通常会告诉我们如何规划、管理和改善城市。例如,对住房市场的研究为分区和土地使用法规提供了信息;交通系统研究指导基础设施投资和拥堵收费;研究犯罪和不平等对公共安全和社会政策也有影响。本期特刊中的几篇论文——包括有关财政透明度、大流行时期的租赁市场和犯罪的论文——提供了具体证据,可以帮助决策者设计出更有效的干预措施。随着城市继续努力应对与可负担性、不平等和可持续性相关的挑战,城市经济学在基于证据的政策制定中的作用变得越来越重要。这种相关性在中国等快速发展的国家尤为明显,在这些国家,城市的迅速扩张深刻地改变了经济和社会。中国城市发展的速度和规模带来了独特的挑战——从管理移民和基础设施需求,创造就业机会,到促进公平发展和环境可持续性。与此同时,由于大量的社会实验和制度变革、管理和大数据获取的改善以及城市经验的显著区域差异,中国为实证研究提供了肥沃的环境。本期的几篇文章引用了中国的数据,说明了针对特定地点的分析如何产生既立足于当地又与全球相关的见解。这里收录的论文体现了当代城市研究的主题和方法的广度。他们讨论了不同的主题,如外国直接投资的模式(Qian, Zhang, and Chen),审计在提高财政透明度中的作用(Chen和Hu),对大规模枪击事件的需求反应(Chen等人),流行病引起的租赁市场变化(Jiang和Shen),收入两极化对犯罪的影响(Liu, Wang, and Wang),以及动态条件下最优规模城市土地租金的理论分析(Fu)。它们共同展示了现代城市经济学的经验深度和理论丰富性。我们希望这期特刊能引发新的对话,启发未来的研究,加深我们对城市与经济发展之间不断发展的关系的理解。 我们尤其欢迎更多关于非洲和其他欠发达国家城市化的研究,这些国家在数据可得性、城市发展和城市治理方面面临的挑战尤为突出。
Introduction to the Special Issue: Cities and Economic Development
To a great extent, economic development is urban development. As economies grow, people and firms cluster in cities to take advantage of agglomeration economies, better infrastructure, access to markets and labor, and consumption amenities. Urbanization not only drives productivity gains and enhances consumer welfare but also introduces challenges such as housing affordability, traffic congestion, pollution, and inequality. Understanding these dynamics is essential for promoting efficiency and sustainable development. The evolution of cities is therefore not only a reflection of economic progress but also a key driver of it.
The field that examines these dynamics—urban economics—focuses on cities and the spatial organization of economic activities. It covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the determinants of city size and growth, the functioning of urban housing and labor markets, transportation systems, land use, public goods provision, urban poverty, segregation, and environmental challenges. Researchers in this field investigate how individuals and firms make location decisions and how their decisions shape the economic and social structure of urban areas.
A defining feature of research in urban economics is its methodological diversity. Scholars employ both partial and general equilibrium models, conduct reduced-form and structural estimations, and rely on mathematical modeling as well as computer simulations. On the empirical side, quasi-experimental strategies—such as difference-in-differences, spatial regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables—are widely used to identify causality. With the growing availability of geocoded data, remote sensing imagery, granular administrative records, and online big data, researchers increasingly adopt spatial econometrics, machine learning tools, and GIS techniques to uncover complex spatial patterns and effects.
The field has seen remarkable growth in recent years, propelled by greater data availability, advances in computing power, and methodological innovations inspired by neighboring disciplines such as microeconometrics, labor economics, industrial organization, and international trade. These developments have enabled scholars to revisit classic theories, uncover new stylized facts, and produce sharper, policy-relevant insights.
What makes urban economic research especially valuable is its direct relevance to real-world challenges. The insights it generates often inform how cities are planned, governed, and improved. For example, research on housing markets informs zoning and land-use regulation; studies of transportation systems guide infrastructure investment and congestion pricing; and work on crime and inequality has implications for public safety and social policies. Several papers in this special issue—including those on fiscal transparency, pandemic-era rental markets, and crime—offer concrete evidence that can help policymakers design more effective interventions. As cities continue to grapple with challenges related to affordability, inequality, and sustainability, the role of urban economics in evidence-based policymaking becomes ever more critical.
This relevance is especially evident in rapidly developing countries like China, where the swift expansion of cities has profoundly transformed both the economy and society. The pace and magnitude of urban growth in China pose distinctive challenges—from managing migration and infrastructure demands, creating jobs, to promoting equitable development and environmental sustainability. At the same time, China provides a fertile setting for empirical research, thanks to a wealth of social experiments and institutional changes, improved access to administrative and big data, and substantial regional variation in urban experiences. Several contributions in this issue draw on Chinese data, illustrating how place-specific analyses can generate insights that are both locally grounded and globally relevant.
The papers included here exemplify the breadth of topics and approaches that characterize contemporary research on cities. They address diverse themes such as patterns of foreign direct investment (Qian, Zhang, and Chen), the role of auditing in improving fiscal transparency (Chen and Hu), demand responses to mass shootings (Chen et al.), pandemic-induced shifts in rental markets (Jiang and Shen), the effects of income polarization on crime (Liu, Wang, and Wang), and a theoretical analysis of land rents in an optimally sized city under dynamic conditions (Fu). Together, they demonstrate both the empirical depth and theoretical richness of modern urban economics.
We hope this special issue will spark new conversations and inspire future research that deepens our understanding of the evolving relationship between cities and economic development. In particular, we would welcome more research on urbanization in Africa and other less-developed countries, where challenges related to data availability, city development, and urban governance are especially pronounced.