| Summary/Abstract |
Urbanization in China involves administrative conversion of rural counties into urban districts. During the 1990s, provincial governments enhanced the authority of county governments by building more direct linkages between the two levels. Yet prefecture-level cities retained direct administrative authority over counties on certain issues. Based on fieldwork and an original database of administrative reorganization cases from 2011 to 2016, the authors observe that vertical competition between provinces and prefecture-level cities is mediating, and in some cases, thwarting the latter’s urbanization efforts. Contrary to the expectation that more developed localities will incorporate wealthier counties, provincial capitals and less developed localities are incorporating counties with the highest fiscal revenue. In developing this argument, this article highlights the neglected role of the provincial government in administrative reorganization and the fiscal implications of urbanization.
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