Unraveling the Impact of Development Zones on Industrial Land-Use Efficiency: Empirical Analysis in Kunshan, China

Abstract

Development zones (DZs) have long been regarded as an important engine of economic growth. Nevertheless, the booming of DZs in China has also brought about land-use issues in cities and across the country. Although extant literature works help us understand the impact of DZs on industrial land-use efficiency (ILUE), there remains a dearth of work unearthing the specific roles played by DZs. Taking Kunshan—the richest county in China—as an example, this study investigates details empirical research into the influencing mechanisms of DZs on ILUE. The results reveal that the establishment of DZs improved the ILUE, with the effects varying across enterprises and over space. Specifically, small and medium-sized, foreign-invested, and high-tech enterprises benefited more from DZs than their counterparts. As the land itself, large-scale and collectively owned land was more likely to be intensively used within DZs. The type of DZs, which represents the positioning and objectives, also matters. These findings offer insight for subsequent research on urban land use and urban restructuring.