Speaker
Description
Research on industrial transformation and collaborative development in small towns has garnered increasing attention against the backdrop of Chinese-style modernization. However, most existing literature focuses on medium- and large-sized cities or the transformation of traditional rural areas, lacking a systematic investigation of industrial evolution and collaborative approaches in small towns confronted with global crises and regional imbalances. Currently, the Chinese government places high importance on coordinated regional development and optimizing urbanization’s spatial resources. Small towns, with potential advantages in accommodating industrial spillovers, absorbing labor mobility, and reshaping space innovatively, warrant further study on their transformation processes and pathways.
The rise and spillover of the children’s clothing industry in Zhili Town, Huzhou City, China, provides a typical case for examining how small towns achieve economic growth through industrial upgrading, relocation, and regional collaboration. This study focuses on several scientific issues: (1) the processes of industrial clustering and relocation in small towns; (2) the roles of government and collaborative mechanisms among multiple stakeholders; (3) labor market disparities and social sustainability; and (4) the outcomes of coordinated regional development.
Using Zhili Town and its primary relocation recipients as the core case, the research was conducted at two levels. First, based on spatial distribution data of the children’s clothing industry, local statistical yearbooks, and policy documents, it systematically analyzes the scale, land-use patterns, and economic contributions of the industry’s progression from early clustering to subsequent spillover, identifying drivers of upgrading and relocation pathways. Second, through interviews, surveys, and roundtable discussions with multiple stakeholders, the study delves into the interactions and negotiations among governments, enterprises, village communities, and migrant labor groups during the relocation process, summarizing the socio-economic attributes and governance structures underpinning the industry’s transformation.
The study findings indicate the following:
(1) Under early market reforms and government policy support, Zhili’s children’s clothing industry rapidly clustered and relied heavily on a non-local labor force. As fire safety issues and spatial carrying-capacity pressures intensified, the local government implemented a “replacement of old, introduction of new” strategy and promoted industrial park development, creating an effective context for upgrading local industrial structures.
(2) Relocated industries primarily moved to less developed regions, forming a cross-regional division of labor known as “front shop, back factory.” Although this injected capital and technology into inland areas—boosting employment—it also increased reliance on coastal markets and investments, highlighting the need for more comprehensive supportive policies at the local level.
(3) Mechanisms of labor commodification and decommodification differ across regions, leading to varying outcomes for migrant workers concerning welfare, income, and flexible employment needs, thus posing new challenges for social services and governance capacities in small towns.
(4) Local governments act as comprehensive coordinators for spatial planning and industrial policy. By enhancing quality inspection centers, encouraging digital trade and brand-building, and establishing cross-regional cooperation platforms, they seek to cultivate the industrial vitality of small towns within urbanization processes and reinforce social equity and sustainability.
This research qualitatively explores how small towns can achieve balanced and high-quality regional growth through industrial transformation and collaborative relocation amid global crises and regional inequalities. Its conclusions deepen the understanding of small towns’ socio-economic resilience and spatial restructuring in the “post-growth” era, offering practical policy guidance on planning, industrial cooperation, and labor governance. They also provide significant insights for the global study of innovative small-town development and regional collaboration.
References
[1] Yang Miao, Zhu Qing, & Yang Dongxue. (2020). Dilemma and path of transformation and upgrading of traditional industrial clusters in small towns: A case study of children's clothing industry in Zhili Town, Huzhou City. Small Town Construction, 38(3), 34-40.
[2] Zhu, J.M., Liu, Y., Zhu, M.W., & Xiao, Y. (2019). Inclusive urban-rural integrated development: spatial paradigm transformation of “regional spatial dispersion-local spatial agglomeration”. Journal of Urban Planning, 5, 24-31.
[3] Fan, J.Y. (2006). Industrial agglomeration and regional differences in labor productivity . Doctoral dissertation.
| Keywords | Small Town; Industrial Transformation; Regional Collaborative Development; Labor Market Disparities |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
