The socioeconomic impact of high-speed rail network to cities:
Evidence from China
Prof. Zheng Chang
Associate Professor in Applied Economics
BNU-HKBU United International College
Date: 18 February 2025 (Tuesday)
Time: 14:30 to 16:00
Venue: E22-G008
Host: Prof. Leona Shao Zhi LI, Assistant Professor in Business Economics
Abstract
Over the past decade, China has developed the world’s most extensive high-speed rail (HSR) network, reshaping the economic geography of the country. While the development of HSR entails substantial investment, its far-reaching effects on urban economies, regional integration, and social welfare are undeniable.
This talk will present a series of empirical studies that examine the socioeconomic impact of HSR on Chinese cities at national, regional, and local levels. Specifically, it will explore how HSR expansion influences urban growth, spatial economic dynamics, and environmental sustainability. Key topics include the causal relationship between HSR and city-level economic development, the spatial patterns of firm formation and industrial relocation, the impact on environmental pollution and carbon emissions, and the transformative effects on housing markets, land values, and real estate investments.
Speaker
Prof. Zheng Chang is an associate professor of applied economics at BNU-HKBU United International College. His research focuses on urban development in China and encompasses a wide range of topics, including transportation infrastructure, land and housing markets, and urban environmental sustainability. Over the past few years, he has published more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed international journals. He earned a doctor degree in Urban Planning from Harvard University. Previously, he served as an assistant professor at City University of Hong Kong, a research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a research scientist at ETH Zurich.
All are welcome!
