Understanding Growth and Shrinkage Phenomena of Industrial and Trade Cities in Southeastern China: Case Study of Yiwu

Abstract

With the advancement of globalization and urbanization, the coexistence of growth and shrinkage in urban areas has become increasingly prominent and has implications for urban transformation. This research provided a comprehensive case study of Yiwu and used multisource spatial data to identify and analyze urban growth and shrinkage according to an analytical framework based on multidimensional changes in the population, economy, and landscape from 2012 to 2018. Township-level resident population data and the records of investment data among business enterprises are referred to as macroscopic indicators, and monthly nighttime light image data are employed to evaluate microscale environmental changes of Yiwu. The results showed a rapidly urbanizing process along with some local shrinkage areas in Yiwu. The growth areas were mainly in central Yiwu, while shrinkage occurred in the northern and southern areas. Based on the theoretical framework following the interaction between globalization and localization, both the quantitative analysis and the qualitative analysis indicated that the changes in the international trade environment and domestic environment; the advancement of machine replacement; the development of e-commerce economy; the renovation and improvement of the environment, which was predominantly carried out by the government of Zhejiang province, and the reform of the household registration system are all contributing to Yiwu's growth and shrinkage.