Job-housing imbalance and mobility of social housing residents in China : the case of Guangzhou

Abstract

This dissertation aims to develop a conceptual framework within which to better understand the relationship between travel behaviour and the built environment, with particular emphasis on job-housing imbalance and mobility issues within the contextual changes of urban space in China. More specifically, the main objectives are to evaluate the degree of job-housing imbalance and the commuting pattern of social housing residents of Guangzhou, to examine how social housing policies affect the relationship between residence and employment, as well as the activity participation of disadvantaged social housing groups, and to explore the relationship between job-housing imbalance, travel behaviour and the built environment. On the basis of the data collected through questionnaire surveys, residents' daily commuting dairies, interviews, and field observations, the relationship among residents' travel behaviour, spatial segregation, and their use of space and facilities in Guangzhou were investigated in a quantitativ e and qualitative manner. In addition, the job-housing imbalance and mobility of social housing residents were assessed by using job-housing ratio, the space-time path, regression modeling, and ArcGIS tools. Finally, four social housing estates in Guangzhou were selected for case studies to examine the sociospatial implication of the social housing residents in Guangzhou. The key findings of this research indicate that the location of social housing estates was the leading significant factor affecting job-housing imbalance and mobility. From the comparative studies of spatial analysis with urban residents of commercial housing estates, a longer commuting time and a restriction on mobility among social housing residents were the results of urban development strategies and residential relocation policies. Regression analysis results show that the economic barriers affecting disadvantaged low-income groups and the passive residence options have aggravated the socio-spatial isolation of such groups in social housing communities. The analysis concerning the underlying factors of job-housing imbalance indicates that government still plays a highly important role in residential relocation and social housing development. Administrative intervention on social housing planning programme in terms of land acquisition and fiscal support has direct effects on both job-housing imbalance and immobility. Furthermore, the less-organized land use pattern and spatial mismatch observed as a result of rapid urbanization process in China lead to low job accessibility and fragmented activity space. Moreover, the excessive clustering of public facilities in central areas has socially and spatially segregates social housing residents from the central areas to the urban fringe, thereby undermining the 'quality of life' of these residents. Thus, the shortcomings of the existing planning system and spatial segregation have had adverse effects on the disadvantaged, low-income groups. Based on the aforementioned findings, the proposed recommendations are as follows: 1) policymakers should consider residents' behaviors and activity participation in the living environment when formulating social housing policies; 2) the municipal government should modify its urban development concept toward transit-oriented development and mixed-land use for the aim of sustainable social housing development; 3) in view of the perceived need for equity and effective planning, service-oriented development has the potential to influence mobility among social housing residents. The findings of this study augment travel behaviour literature and display a novel planning perspective with regard to enhancing social housing development in China.This study also provides a new research framework and findings that facilitate the stakeholders to ascertain ways of developing sustainable social housing in China in future.