Regional Impacts of High Speed Rail in China : Spatial Proximity and Productivity in an Emerging Economy
This paper contains an initial reconnaissance of the situation in Yunfu, prior to the NanGuang project construction. It provides a brief overview of the trajectory of economic development in Yunfu from an economy that was dominated by primary industries to that by secondary industries. The development of local transport infrastructure is reviewed, as is the more detailed structure of local industries, with special emphasis on dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. The experience of high speed rail development impact elsewhere was drawn upon to reflect on the possible regional economic outcomes that might emerge following the opening of the Nanning-Guangzhou high speed rail. The structure of and the approach to a before and after monitoring study is considered. The remainder of the paper is divided into six parts. Part two gives a brief overview of the economic development in Yunfu municipality since its establishment in 1994. Part three describes local transport links and infrastructure. Part four provides a description of the internal structure of local industries, with special emphasis on the dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial parks. Part five discusses possible regional economic impacts associated with the forthcoming high-speed rail line and part six summarizes a proposal for the next steps.
| Summary: | This paper contains an initial
reconnaissance of the situation in Yunfu, prior to the
NanGuang project construction. It provides a brief overview
of the trajectory of economic development in Yunfu from an
economy that was dominated by primary industries to that by
secondary industries. The development of local transport
infrastructure is reviewed, as is the more detailed
structure of local industries, with special emphasis on
dominant industrial sectors and the planned industrial
parks. The experience of high speed rail development impact
elsewhere was drawn upon to reflect on the possible regional
economic outcomes that might emerge following the opening of
the Nanning-Guangzhou high speed rail. The structure of and
the approach to a before and after monitoring study is
considered. The remainder of the paper is divided into six
parts. Part two gives a brief overview of the economic
development in Yunfu municipality since its establishment in
1994. Part three describes local transport links and
infrastructure. Part four provides a description of the
internal structure of local industries, with special
emphasis on the dominant industrial sectors and the planned
industrial parks. Part five discusses possible regional
economic impacts associated with the forthcoming high-speed
rail line and part six summarizes a proposal for the next steps. |
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