How to address properly the scale of urban infrastructures? –An empirical study of 35 large Chinese cities

Abstract Infrastructure provision is widely emphasised amid industrialisation, modernisation and urbanisation, for which plenty efforts have been devoted across countries globally. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the shortage or over-supply of urban infrastructures has already induced various urban symptoms, such as urban storm water runoff, urban heat island effect, and habitat destruction, and this is particularly the case in the context of some emerging economies. China, the largest-volume developing country worldwide, has witnessed an unparalleled urbanisation process since the post-reform era, whilst is simultaneously being challenged with critical urban problems triggered by the inappropriate expansion of urban infrastructures. These urban problems manifest more explicitly in mega cities. It is considered essential for these large cities to address properly the scale of urban infrastructures (UIS) by underpinning the understanding of the driving factors for UIS expansion, so that proper planning and construction strategies can be designed and implemented. Extant literature presents inherent limitations in duly exploring the driving factors of UIS expansion, and in filling this research gap, this study therefore aims to investigate the driving factors of UIS expansion in the context of 35 Chinese large cities. Kaya identity and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method are applied collectively for conducting the research. The findings from this study can be highlighted as follows: Utilisation efficiency (UE) is found inhibits UIS expansion in 77% (27/35) surveyed Chinese large cities; economic output (EO) and population (P) present significant role in stimulating UIS enlargement across all the surveyed large cities. Tailor-made policy recommendations have been synthesised by drawing upon the understanding of UIS expansion driving factors, which can facilitate local urban governors to address appropriately the scale of urban infrastructure construction and delivery, and further contribute to the sustainability improvement of urbanisation paradigm across the country of China.