Rapid urbanisation in the reform period has resulted in a very high demand for basic urban infrastructure in China. Improving its provision by the public sector is a challenge as problems persist in the form of unmet demand, deficiencies in cost recovery and inadequate maintenance. Institutional...

In a globalising world, cities at or near the apex of the international urban hierarchy are among the favoured few—New York, London and Tokyo—that have acquired large economic, cultural and symbolic roles. Among a handful of regional aspirants, such as Hong Kong, Miami and Sao...