Urban spatial restructuring in Shanghai : the location of firms

Abstract

This research attempts to shed light on the internal spatial restructuring in Chinese cities by a close and systematic investigation of the location of firms in Shanghai. Data are collected from the local government, field reconnaissance, and interviews. GIS mapping, statistical methods (i.e. Moran's Index, density gradient, index of dissimilarity), modeling, and case study are employed to study the location of firms in Shanghai. On the basis of findings, the thesis concludes that the location pattern, location determinants and locational interaction process of firms in Shanghai demonstrate the city's unique urban spatial restructuring process, which is closely related to the city's specific economic stage and unique "transitional" characteristics. Taking Shanghai as a case, this study contributes to the understanding of urban spatial structure in cities which are rapidly industrializing, globalizing and transforming, by linking urban economic structure to spatial structure through the location of firms.