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Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 5824

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Keti Lelo

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Guest Editor

Department of Business Studies, University of Roma Tre, 00154 Rome, Italy
Interests: urban economics; development economics; spatial statistics

Prof. Dr. Salvatore Monni

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Guest Editor

Department of Economics, University of Roma Tre, 00154 Rome, Italy
Interests: development economics; regional economics; environmental economics

Dr. Federico Tomassi

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Guest Editor

Italian Revenue Agency, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Interests: urban economics; regional and cohesion policies; economic geography; electoral studies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The cities where we live are facing a long transition period where affirmed urban models undergo deep modifications and existing relationships between shape and functions are no longer sufficient to interpret urban dynamics. “Fluxes” are progressively substituting “places”, baring not only the physical discontinuity, but also the alteration of wealth and power distribution at both “macro” and “micro” levels. The globalization process has changed the social equilibria, producing socio-spatial inequalities and sustainability issues that strongly influence the economic performance of cities and foster political instability. These dynamics raise numerous problems in terms of description, interpretation, and theoretical implications. Their complexity and ambiguity can be efficiently tackled only by integrating different sectorial toolkits and information levels.

Is it realistically possible to pursue sustainable cities objectives by simultaneously looking at urban and environmental quality, economic performance, cultural vibrancy, social cohesion, and efficient functional relationships?

Researchers and scholars are invited to bring into the discussion new methods and approaches to the topics of urban equality and city sustainability. We welcome contributions based on a plurality of methods: quantitative, historical, qualitative, and conceptual. We are oriented to the policy implications of empirical research and theoretical advancement on the definition and understanding of the sustainable city concept. We are interested in an economic geography approach to urban inequalities, particularly the analysis of transformation processes and their socioeconomic impacts in urban areas; the relationships between local economies and urban policies; and the spatial mapping of economic, social, environmental, political, and cultural aspects that are useful for analyzing the performance of cities.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Keti Lelo
Prof. Dr. Salvatore Monni
Dr. Federico Tomassi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable cities
socio-spatial inequalities
fragmentation
mapping
spatial indicators

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 11116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Value Chain Participation, Employment Structure, and Urban–Rural Income Gap in the Context of Sustainable Development

by Shuguang Liu, Xiaowen Tang and Yubin Zhao

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1931; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051931 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 472

Abstract

Currently, the trend of globalization is evident, and global value chain participation has had a significant impact on the urban–rural income gap in China. This article takes sustainable development as the background and constructs a theoretical mechanism for the impact of global value chain participation on the urban–rural income gap and uses a two-way fixed effects model to empirically test data from 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2014. Research finds that global value chain participation significantly widens the urban–rural income gap. Compared to the central and western regions, the participation of the eastern region in the global value chain has a more significant effect on widening the urban–rural income gap. Further research has found that employment structure plays a partial mediating role in the process of global value chain participation in widening the urban–rural income gap. The factor endowment structure and industrial structure upgrading can significantly strengthen the mechanism of global value chain participation in optimizing the employment structure. This article’s research findings have significant practical implications for reducing the income gap between urban and rural areas and fostering sustainable development in both. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies)

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28 pages, 3634 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Green Gentrification Mechanisms and Residents’ Satisfaction in Chinese New Urban Areas: A Case Study of the Area Surrounding Julong Lake Park

by Hao Zheng, Hongshan Jia and Jiancheng Lu

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010150 - 22 Dec 2023

Viewed by 829

Abstract

As China’s urbanization rate continues to rise, new cities are constantly being built, and the popularity of sustainable concepts has led to the development of numerous green infrastructure projects. The increase in green resources has improved the overall urban environment, but this environmental improvement can lead to local stratification and give rise to a phenomenon known as “green gentrification”. Green gentrification can enhance neighborhood vitality but may also lead to negative consequences, such as the displacement of indigenous populations. This study primarily focuses on whether there is residential segregation and social differentiation between indigenous residents and newcomers due to green gentrification and whether they hold different views on green infrastructure. To address these issues and advance the cause of urban fairness and justice, break down neighborhood segregation, and promote community integration, we conducted satisfaction surveys and in-depth personal interviews with indigenous residents and newcomers regarding the Julong Lake facility, their individual circumstances, and the neighborhood relationships. The survey results revealed the following: (1) Both the indigenous residents and the newcomers expressed a relatively high satisfaction with the sports facilities at Julong Lake, but both groups reported a lower satisfaction with the neighborhood relationships. (2) The indigenous residents exhibited a lower satisfaction compared to the newcomers regarding the commercial facilities, social attributes, and green infrastructure surrounding Julong Lake. Additionally, the overall satisfaction with Julong Lake was lower for the indigenous residents compared to the newcomers. We synthesized the survey results and personal interviews with the indigenous residents and the newcomers and arrived at the following conclusions: (1) In the context of urbanization and uneven distribution of green resources in urban areas, the integration of suburban green resources with real estate development has given rise to the new phenomenon of an emerging green middle class, primarily driven by green resources. (2) The new residents exhibited higher satisfaction levels with Julong Lake park attributes and their personal circumstances compared to the long-term residents. This suggests a “green preference” among the new residents, leading to social stratification among the long-term residents driven by cultural aesthetics and value pursuits. The result of this is a stratification and adjacent residential segregation between the long-term residents and the newcomers. (3) The emerging green middle class areas have, on the one hand, promoted the migration of capital, middle-class populations, and green resources to the suburbs, to some extent favoring suburban green development. In conclusion, we hope that this research can help facilitate more equitable allocation of green resources in cities, formulate more optimal green policies, and promote harmonious coexistence and the sharing of the benefits of green development among residents of different income levels in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies)

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28 pages, 1595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Logistic Regression to Predict Access to Essential Services: Electricity and Internet in Nouakchott, Mauritania

by Seyid Abdellahi Ebnou Abdem, Jérôme Chenal, El Bachir Diop, Rida Azmi, Meriem Adraoui and Cédric Stéphane Tekouabou Koumetio

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16197; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316197 - 22 Nov 2023

Viewed by 917

Abstract

This study employs a logistic regression model to offer an in-depth understanding of disparities in the access to essential urban services, specifically focusing on electricity and Internet services, in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Through a comprehensive analysis of demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic data, we identify key determinants of access to these utilities. Our findings reveal that the geographic location within the city, particularly in the western regions, and home ownership, significantly bolster the likelihood of having electricity. Conversely, women are found to be disadvantaged in this regard. For Internet access, income level and education, particularly at the Bachelor’s level, emerged as significant predictors. This research not only sheds light on the intricate landscape of service provision in Nouakchott but also offers actionable insights for equitable development. These results empower both policymakers and citizens, marking a step toward transforming Nouakchott into a smarter, more inclusive urban environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies)

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22 pages, 7804 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation and Optimization of Green Space Fairness in Urban Built-Up Areas Based on an Improved Supply and Demand Model: A Case Study of Chengdu, China

by Qidi Dong, Heng Lu, Xiaohong Luo, Pengman He, Di Li, Linjia Wu, Yundi Wei and Xuli Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15014; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015014 - 18 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1228

Abstract

Urban green space (UGS) is an important public infrastructure. However, the rapid development of cities and the insufficient supply and uneven distribution of UGSs have led to a mismatch between them and various needs, which has seriously affected environmental justice and social equity. This study discusses the fairness of UGS from the perspective of supply and demand and improves the theoretical framework of supply and demand combination evaluation. First, this study analyzes the supply of UGSs through accessibility analysis and evaluates their demand from both subjective and objective dimensions. Second, the fairness of UGS is analyzed from a Gini coefficient and spatial evaluation perspective. Finally, the location optimization of UGSs is performed, which provides strategic guidance for the improvement of UGSs in Chengdu. The research results based on Chengdu City show that the travel mode directly affects the supply range of UGSs and is reflected in their fairness. At the same time, in the case of a highly dense population, UGSs in the city are in short supply; that is, the equity is negatively correlated with the population. This study provides a new perspective to evaluate UGS fairness and can be a reference for UGS optimization decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies)

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14 pages, 1026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Capital Inequality According to Hukou in Unequal Economic Environments in China

by Songyang Lyu, Sungik Kang and Ja-Hoon Koo

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13748; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113748 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1613

Abstract

China is experiencing an increase in socioeconomic inequality in comparison to the global trend. Employing the hukou registration as a focal point, this study seeks to examine social capital differences between developed and underdeveloped regions in China. As the data for the analysis were from the China Family Panel Studies, social capital was measured by social trust, participation, and networks. The Gini coefficient, a measure of economic inequality, was calculated for 25 different provinces in China in this paper. In light of the fact that these are panel data collected between 2014 and 2018, this study employed the random-effect model for panel analysis. The first finding is that individuals, in an environment characterized by high levels of economic inequality, have low levels of social capital levels in China. Second, the inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital varies according to social capital element. Specifically, this inverse relationship was observed in social trust and social networks, but not in social participation. Third, hukou registration moderated the inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital. The rural hukou registration revealed a stronger inverse relationship between economic inequality and social capital than its urban counterpart. This indicates that the negative impact of economic inequality on social capital resulted in additional inequality among rural hukou holders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Equality and Sustainability Studies)

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