The creation of new cross-border metropolitan regions through processes of governance rescaling

The case of the Yangtze River Delta

For some years now, intensive metropolization processes have been observed in China, leading to the development of so-called super mega-city regions. However, the growth of metropolitan areas is also accompanied by questions about new governance requirements for spatial development. What reorientation in governance structures can be observed? What are the goals of restructuring and rescaling? What governance structures and planning measures are being developed to support the development of mega-city regions into sustainable and innovative spaces?

The project focuses on spatial development and governance processes in the Yangtze River Delta region, which is developing around the Shanghai metropolis. This region crosses several administrative boundaries and the development of cross-border governance processes as well as questions of innovation capacity and sustainability are the focus of the analysis.

The developments in the Yangtze River Delta are compared with developments in other areas that are undergoing comprehensive reorganisation. The focus is on the emergence of the (cross-border) Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region in Germany.

The creation of new cross-border metropolitan regions

Publikationen aus dem Projekt

  • Yan, S.; Zou, L.; Growe, A.; Wang, Q. (2024): Propositions for place-based policies in making regional innovation systems. Evidence from Six High-tech Industrial Development Zones in China. In: Cities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105322
  • Yan, S., & Growe, A. (2022). Regional Planning, Land-Use Management, and Governance in German Metropolitan Regions—The Case of Rhine–Neckar Metropolitan Region. Land, 11(11), 2088. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11112088
  • Yan, S./ Wang, Q./ Growe A. (2022): Cross-jurisdictional Governance Practices and Implications from the Rescaling Perspective: The Case of Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar in German. In: Urban Planning International. https://doi.org/10.19830/j.upi.2021.614 (in Chinese).

Vorträge aus dem Projekt

  • Yan, S.; Growe, A. (2023): Reconfiguring the rural-urban fringe: Open collaborative workspaces as anchor points for spatial development, case studies from South Germany and the Yangtze River Delta. Deutscher Kongress für Geographie 2023. 19.-23.09.2023, Frankfurt am Main.
  • Growe, A.; Yan, S. (2023): Reflektionen über den Beitrag 'Comparing changing regional governance in the Yangtze River Delta, China, and in the Rhein-Neckar Region, Germany. DFG-Workshop „Stand und Weiterentwicklung der international vergleichenden Planungsforschung“, 15.06.2023, Dortmund/Online.
  • Yan, S.; Growe, A.: (2023): Governance for a polycentrentric cross-border metropolitan region? Comparing changing regional governance in the Yangtze River Delta, China, and in the Rhein-Neckar Region, Germany. Dortmunder Konferenz 2023. 13.-14.02.2023, Dortmund.
  • Growe, A; Yan, S. (2022): Governing cross-border metropolitan regions: Comparing actors and instruments between China’s Yangtze River Delta and Germany’s Rhein-Neckar Region. China-Germany city climate strategy webinar coordinated with National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation in China (NCSC), Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung (Germany) Beijing Representative Office, 14.12.2022. Beijing (online).
  • Growe, A; Yan, S. (2022): Governing Chinese mega-city regions - Organising spatial development or resigning in the face of size? Vortragsreihe „Ostasien Aktuell“ am Institut für Sinologie der Universität Heidelberg, 23.11.2022. Heidelberg.
  • Yan, S./ Growe A. (2022): How Well is Metropolitan Governance Going in Germany? The Case of Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar. Oral presentation at the Paris 2022 UGI Centennial Congress, France, 18-22.07.2022.
  • Growe, A. (2021): Wer kann von wem lernen? Chinesische Megacity Regions und deutsche Metropolregionen. Jena Talks in Economic Geography, 14.12.2021. Jena/Online.
  • Yan, S./Zou, L./Growe, A. (2022): How do policies influence innovation development in a specific region? Evidence from Zhangjiang High-tech Park in Shanghai, China. Vortrag auf der Konferenz. Knowledge needs Space: Challenges and Perspectives of Future Living Environments, KIT/Online-Vortrag, 28. bis 29. Januar 2022.
  • Yan, S./Growe, A./Wang, X. (2021): Cooperation or Competition? An empirical study of state rescaling and governance in Ganjiang National New Area, China. ACSP 2021 Annual Conference. 07.-09. & 21.-23.10.2021, Florida/Online Conference.