CALL FOR PAPERS
CONFERENCE ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA
25-26th June, 2015
Suzhou, Jiangsu, P. R. China
Along its fast paced economic growth in the last decades, China went through a fast urbanization
process since 1977, going from a mostly rural country to an urban society. While China is not the
only emerging economy that went through a fast paced urbanization process, some specificities of
the Chinese context lead to unique features and challenges. Perhaps one of the best well known
feature of the Chinese economy is the household registration system, hukou, which, by limiting
mobility of migrants (both rural-urban and urban-urban), affects agglomeration economies and
urban growth. Furthermore, the hukou system, by limiting access to public services for migrants,
resulted in a segmented urban labour market, where migrants are at a disadvantage relative to
local resident, leading to increased income inequality within cities. Another feature of the
Chinese economy that has affected urbanization is the reliance on public investment by both
public companies and local governments. This has lead to excess public investment in some cities,
leading to appearance of “ghost towns”, and well as a housing bubble in other places. The current
investment policy has also affected the urban structure, with some excessively large cities,
particularly when compared with the next level cities, leading to increasing income inequality
across cities and provinces. Demographic changes, driven by the one child policy, will be one of
the major challenges that China will face in sustaining economic growth and urbanization. To
address these issues, the Chines Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of
Science and Technology and Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction have launched
projects under several smart cities projects, to make cities more efficient and competitive through
the use of technology.
We would like to invite the submission of papers for the 2 day conference, to bring together
Western and Chinese researchers to discuss the past of future of urban development in China.
Contributions in the following areas are especially welcomed:
Regional and Urban Growth
Demography, Internal Migration and Urban Labour Markets
Inter and Intra Regional Income Inequality
Smart Cities, Innovation and Competitiveness
Urban Housing Markets
Transport and Infrastructure
Regional Policies in China
Keynote Speakers:
§§ André Rodriguez-Pose - Professor of Economic Geography at London School of Economics;
President of the Regional Science Association International
§§ Kaizhong Yang – Professor of School of Government at Peking University; President of the
Regional Science Association of China
§§ Mark Roberts – Senior Economist at the World Bank
A joint conference organized by:
§§ Regional Science Association International (RSAI)
§§ Regional Science Association of China (RSAC)
§§ Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, and Society (CJRES)
Hosted by:
§§ International Business School Suzhou (IBSS)
§§ Xi’an Jiao tong – Liverpool University (XJTLU)
Organizers:
§§ Steven Brakman, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
§§ Tiago Freire, International Business School Suzhou, China
§§ Charles van Marrewijk, International Business School Suzhou, China
§§ Kaizhong Yang, School of Government, Peking University, President of Regional Science
Association of China, China
§§ Jiuwen Sun, School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Excutive President of
Regional Science Association of China, China.
§§ Yuyuan Wen, School of Economics, Renmin University, China
Dates:
§§ Thursday, 25th of June, 2015
§§ Friday 26th June, 2015
Submissions:
Researchers interested in participating should submit an abstract (up to 500 words) and full paper
by the 15th of April through the following website - http://events.digitalpapers.org/udc. The
working language of the seminar will be English. Only papers written in English will be
considered. Presenters will be informed of the decision by the 1st of May.
Travellers to China are reminded that they must obtain a travel visa.
Transportation into Suzhou from Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao International Airport
For international students traveling from Shanghai Pudong International Airport: there are three
ways of getting to Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University:
By Air
If you arrive at Pudong Airport in Shanghai, please take the airport shuttle bus (approximately 2
hours, the last bus leaves at around 7pm from the airport) and get off at “Suzhou Industrial Park
Stop” (苏州园区站)*, and then take a taxi to XJTLU or your hotel.
If you arrive at Hongqiao Airport, you can take the high-speed train form Hongqiao Railway
Station to Suzhou Railway Station or Suzhou SIP Railway Station, or you can take the airport
shuttle bus (approximately 1 hour, the last bus leaves around 7:30pm) and get off at “Suzhou
Industrial Park Stop” (苏州园区站)*, and then take a taxi to XJTLU or your hotel.
Remember to ask for ticket to SIP stop (园区).
Useful link (for reference only): Airport Shuttle Buses
By Train
On your arrival at Suzhou Railway Station (苏州火车站), you can travel to the University by Bus
No. 178 (last bus is at 9:30pm from the station) or Fastline No.2 (快线2 号, last bus is at
10:30pm from the station). Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.
On your arrival at Suzhou SIP Railway Station (苏州园区火车站), you can take a taxi to XJTLU.
By Coach
From Suzhou South Long Distance Bus Station (汽车南站), you can travel to the University by
Bus No. 16 (bus stops around 8pm) which will take you around 20 minutes depending on the
traffic. Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.
From Suzhou North Long Distance Bus Station (苏州北站), you can travel to the University by
Bus No. 812(bus stops around 7:30pm). Alternatively, you can travel by taxi.
Book your car service
You can book your own car service by filling in this form and send it to zhengtai@szztqc.com.
Fee: Single trip between university (or your hotel) and Shanghai Hongqiao: 280 RMB
Single trip between university (or your hotel) and Shanghai Pudong: 350 RMB
University address
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, No.111 Ren'ai Road, Dushu Lake Higher Education Town
Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province P R China 215123
Address in Chinese: 苏州工业园区仁爱路111 号，西交利物浦大学
Accommodations
Suzhou is a city with many events and tourists, therefore, it is highly recommended to secure your
place of residence before your visit.
Hotel Information
Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool International Conference Centre (from 388 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 0.2 km
Hotel number: +86 0512-86665555
Hotel website: http://www.hoteleding.com/41102070/index.shtml
It also can be booked through http://hotel.elong.com/soochow/41102070/
Suzhou Jingzhai Hotel (from 398 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 0.5 km
Hotel number: +86 400-755-8888
It can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.net/soochow/01102271/#?
Jinling Guanyuan International Hotel – Suzhou (from 538 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 1.6 km
Hotel number: (86) (512) 6260 8888
It can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.com/soochow/51102045/
Scholars Hotel Suzhou Yueliangwan (from 337 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 2.1 km
Hotel website: http://www.soocor.com/index.htm
It also can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.net/soochow/41102167/
Suzhou Four Points By Sheraton (from 812 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 2.1 km
Hotel number: (86)(512) 6799 7999
Hotel website:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3757
It also can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.net/soochow/01102305/
Suzhou Kempinski Hotel (from 853 RMB per night)
Distance to the university: 2.7 km
Hotel number: (86) 4007-889-889
Hotel website: http://www.jdydb.com/hotel/13636
It also can be booked through: http://hotel.elong.net/soochow/51102021/