Work

Tiered Evolution and Sustainable Governance of High-Quality Development in Megacities: A System Dynamics Simulation of Chinese Cases

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, megacities have become crucial drivers of development. As the country with the largest number of megacities (seven in total), China is confronted with significant challenges such as population–resource–environment conflicts, which render high-quality development an imperative pursuit. This study employs a system dynamics approach to assess high-quality development in China’s megacities. It analyzes interactions among economic growth, technological innovation, environmental quality, and livelihood security under policy regulation, clarifying their evolutionary mechanisms and constructing a model to project the high-quality development index (HQDI) and coupling coordination degree (CCD) among subsystems. Findings reveal an upward trend in both HQDI and CCD across the seven megacities, with notable stratification. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen form the top echelon, leveraging financial and technological resources, driven by science and green development. Guangzhou and Chongqing constitute the second tier, supported by regional integration and industrial clusters, while Chengdu and Tianjin form the third echelon via regional strategic transformations. In coordinated development, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou lead with multi-link synergy, whereas Chengdu, Chongqing, and Tianjin advance industry–ecology–livelihood coordination through regional strategies. This study offers insights for overcoming development bottlenecks, optimizing policies, and enhancing urban governance to foster a coordinated, high-quality development pattern.

Source: Urban Science

DOI: 10.3390/urbansci10010049

Authors: Zongyuan Huang, Liying Sheng, Miaomiao Qin, Xiangyuan Yu

Institution: Beijing Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930