Neighbourhood redevelopment and the making of a housing middle class: Can gentrification explain China’s spatial and social changes?

Him Chung*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between spatial change and social process in China. Studies in Anglo-American and European cities usually suggest middle classes move into a working class neighbourhood and causes gentrification. Such a relationship is not found in China, where the state intervenes highly into the social and economic processes. Using neighbourhood redevelopment in Guangzhou as a case study, this paper argues that China’s state-led redevelopment is a redistribution process which produces a housing class in cities. During the process, native residents received the blessing of the local government and granted access to housing resources after redevelopment. Through house allocation and land rent sharing, neighbourhood redevelopment makes a specific housing middle class in the city. This process demonstrates not only the Chinese state’s consistent engagement in socioeconomic development, but also a very different relationship between spatial changes and social class transition in the country.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1375–1388
Number of pages14
JournalGeo Journal
Volume86
Issue number3
Early online date14 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development

User-Defined Keywords

  • Gentrification
  • Middle class
  • Neighbourhood
  • Urban redevelopment

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