As China's cities grow, the economic policy that determines who is a rural resident and who is an urban resident are in need of some changes, according to this article.
"At present 46% of China's population (some 600 million people) is classified as urban, while some of the 700 million considered rural already live under semi-urban conditions. Urban incomes and expenditure are three times higher, on average, than their rural equivalent.
Hukou reform is one of the longest-running sagas of Chinese economic policy, but has never made it on to the statute book. This time, Chinese economists note, the conditions are right. The global economic crisis has made a change of course inevitable.
The decision to change now 'has a lot to do with the government's plan of structural adjustments for China's growth model ... Urbanisation is one of the structural adjustments aimed at reducing China's reliance on external demand,' writes Yao Yang, a researcher at the China Centre for Economic Research, in an article on ending hukou, published by the China Daily."
FULL STORY: China: Rural-urban divide perplexes
Urban, Suburban, or Rural?
The Pew Research Center digs into a question of definitions, fraught with exceptions and subjectivity.
Is the Urban-Suburban Divide Destined to Disappear?
In a new book, Hans Westlund and Tigran Haas argue that the global knowledge economy is radically reshaping urban development. Eventually, they say, it'll render meaningless our present notions of "urban," "suburban," and "rural."
You Weigh Where You Live
A new study to be published in the fall issue of the Journal of Rural Health finds evidence that rural Americans are more likely to be overweight than their urban cohorts, reports Mary MacVean.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.
Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?
Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont