Are Compact Cities Greener ? Evidence from China , 2000 - 2010

Whether a city develops toward a more compact or sprawling one may affect many aspects of urban environment, such as public and ecosystem health, greenhouse gas emissions, and quality of life. Using longitudinal data of Chinese cities during 2000-2010, we investigate the relationship between the compactness of urban growth, measured by average population density and several important indicators of urban greenness. Panel fixed-effects estimates support the widely held belief that compact urban growth can improve air quality and reduce per capita carbon footprint. Results also suggest that compact development reduces the growth in road capital and vehicle ownership, while its effect on travel behavior seems more significant in terms of promoting walking instead of reducing driving. On the other hand, increasing density reduces cities’ per capita urban park and green space, although denser cities may compensate for the reduction with better access to park and green space. Our study strengthens the urban policy and planning literature with the much needed longitudinal evidence and fills the gap of empirics in the Chinese context. The overall finding provides Chinese cities supportive evidence for higher density as opposed to lower density development.