China Needs 'Supercities'

"China would obtain greater economic benefits and improve energy efficiency by adopting a more concentrated pattern of urbanization, according to a report released here Monday by the McKinsey Global Institute, McKinsey and Co.'s economics think tank."

"'An urgent shift in focus from solely driving GDP growth to an agenda of boosting urban productivity is not only an opportunity but a necessity,' said the report."

"A more concentrated pattern of urban growth would produce 20 percent higher per capita GDP than the current pattern, have higher energy efficiency, and contain the loss of arable land, its said."

"It would also help cluster the most skilled workers in urban centers which would be major engines of economic growth."

"The pattern would produce 15 'super cities' with average populations of 25 million people or 11 clusters of cities with combined populations of more than 60 million, it said."