Susan M. Walcott

An Analysis of the Relationship between Spatial Patterns of Water Quality and Urban Development in Shanghai, China

Recent urban development in Shanghai, the largest city in China, and its impact on the water environment are examined in this study. The area of built-up surface was obtained from the classification of the Landsat 7 ETM+ images of the year 2000 for Shanghai. The proportion of built-up surface and population density were extracted from buffer zones with radii ranging from 100 to 2000 m, and used in regression analysis against various water quality parameters at 44 water quality monitoring stations across metropolitan Shanghai. Results suggest that in most cases, the pattern of urban land use as represented by the built-up surface was a stronger predictor than population density in explaining spatial patterns of water quality parameters in Shanghai. The best models of most water quality parameters were found for buffer zones of 2000 m radius rather than for smaller buffers, indicating the regional nature of the factors that influence water quality in the study area. Evidence suggests that strong associations between land use, population density, and water quality result from the contribution of untreated domestic wastewater and non-point pollution sources to waterways in Shanghai. Such relationships should remain strong in the near future until measures to increase the capacity of wastewater treatment and control of non-point pollution sources are fully implemented.

Chinese Industrial and Science Parks: Bridging the Gap

This article proposes the addition of a “bridge high technology” stage to Parks (1996) Asian development model, based upon field research and analysis of four “science and technology parks” in different regions of China: Shenzhen, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Xi’an. Initially established as learning districts to foster technology transfer from foreign to domestic enterprises, these specially configured spaces exhibit a variety of interactions indicating an increasing shift toward domestically generated technology for native companies. The mix and type of companies in parks at different locations within China reflect the locational comparative advantages of each place, whether as an outgrowth of local research or by government design.

Analyzing an Innovative Environment: San Diego as a Bioscience Beachhead

This article examines dynamics underlying the growth of a flourishing bioscience cluster in San Diego, California, to illustrate the construction of an innovative environment and the matching of place characteristics with a specific economic activity. Extensive interviews explore the formation of synergistic connections promoting the political, economic, and social networks of entrepreneurial individuals at the metropolitan scale. Spatial proximity is shaped by real estate considerations within and between local clusters in a volatile industry affected strongly by shifting access to financial and human capital. Five key factors underlying regional success are found to be access to an outstanding research university, advocacy leadership, risk financing, an entrepreneurial culture, and appropriate real estate, knit by an intensive information exchange network.

Overlapping Ethnicities and Negotiated Space: Atlanta's Buford Highway

The unique intermingling of numerous businesses reflecting varied ethnic affiliations along Buford Highway in Metro Atlanta offers a case study combining cultural, social, and urban geography. Studies of ethnic retail concentrations generally locus on one particular group; the Buford Corridor offers a strikingly linear picture of coevolving interwoven multiethnic retail and residential spaces. This research examines the built environment for evidence of population succession and entrepreneurial cultural adaptation strategies in which different groups are over- and underrepresented in relation to their regional presence. Explanatory factors proposed include the types of immigrants, timing of arrival in Atlanta, and host society absorptive capacity as epitomized by key individuals and organizations. The predominance of ethnic Chinese from a variety of countries is noted, as well as a secondary migration How leaving California for better job opportunities elsewhere. An ethnic bipolar labor market enhances assimilation and interweaving of different skill and resource levels in the same ethnic establishments and shopping areas.

High Tech in the Deep South: Biomedical Firm Clusters inMetropolitan Atlanta

The relation between biomedical firms and their metropolitan region location in Atlanta, Georgia is examined as an empirical test of both innovative milieu agglomeration theory and place specific strategies for life science companies in the Deep South. This sectoral analysis utilizes questionnaires and targeted interviews to highlight the economic development role of real estate in suburban employment and residence sites (SEARS) and the intra-metropolitan directional migration of firms. Clustering of related industries is fostered by a shortage of appropriately configured laboratory and office space at the intermediate stage of the business growth cycle, encouraging information sharing and cooperative behavior via proximity by necessity. Lack of a key networking individual or mediating organization critically retards development of this potential growth engine.

The Three Georgias: Emerging Realignments at the Dawn of the New Millennium

This research examines spatial realignments within Georgia, pointing to the rise of a tripartite regional model consisting of declining urban cores, dynamic suburban sprouts, and stagnant rural poverty regions. Rapid growth and restructuring during the 1990s resulted in significant new patterns of development. A process of creative destruction impacted old manufacturing centers and led to a rapid rise in new high-tech sectors, without accompanying changes in historic poverty areas. Roughly dividing the states population into corresponding thirds, these transformations portend shifts with both political and economic consequences at the dawn of the 21st century. Active intervention at the state, regional, and local levels will be needed to create a more balanced development pattern in the state in the future.

Growing Global: Learning Locations in the Life Sciences

This research explores the role of place in corporate location strategy by following the global footsteps of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company. Examining a life science company model whose acquisitions strongly affected industry strategy provides examples of place characteristics modifying high tech corporate strategy in four very different metropolitan areas: Indianapolis, Research Triangle, San Diego and Shanghai. Targeted interviews explore institutional, human, and place features. This case study illustrates why choosing the best learning location—where both structured and informal information exchange networks can nurture companies—is key to achieving competitive advantage through site selection.

HIGH-TECH PARKS AND DEVELOPMENT ZONES IN METROPOLITAN SHANGHAI: FROM THE INDUSTRIAL TO THE INFORMATION AGE

Abstract Dynamics of spatial interaction within high tech parks in metropolitan Shanghai are examined to assess strategies for advancing the Chang Jiang delta region. The concept of neo-Marshallian development zones, when applied in the context of a developing world city, transitioning socialist economy, and centralized control of both State and foreign direct investment companies, suggests several modifications to classic models. Interviews with key participants in four zones present a fuller picture of forces at work in the effort to rapidly advance China from a manufacturing to an innovation leader in targeted industries.

Wenzhou and the Third Italy: Entrepreneurial Model Regions

ABSTRACT Physically semi-isolated between the two economically booming deltas of Shanghai and Guangzhou, Wenzhou provides the premier example of successfully autonomous, bottom-up entrepreneurial development in contemporary China. Along with a prosperous urban area, rural farm cooperatives are developing a new model of financing that integrates the three previous periods of economic experimentation. This research outlines the Wenzhou Model, discusses similarities with the Third Italy Model, and notes development possibilities for other Chinese metropolitan regions. Keys to success lie in local trust-based social networks, a focus on niche sectors, market sensitive export orientation, and investments utilizing endogenous capital.

The Indianapolis ‘Fortune 500’: Lilly and Regional Renaissance

The reasons for and consequences of the location of a flourishing industrial anomaly ouside the predominant region of concentration is of continuing geographic interest. This paper is an examination of both structural and agency factors for the historical establishment and consistent success of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company. Along with its recent medical device spinoff, Lilly is the only ‘Fortune 500’ firm in Indianapolis, and one of few outside the Mid-Atlantic states cluster. Industry-locational exceptionalism is sustained by a cross-sectoral concentration of related manufacturing and service companies to create a health ensemble. A consciously constructed local metropolitan and state sociopolitical niche further nurtures industry-specific and mutually beneficial growth. Theories on agglomeration-sustaining patterns are considered in light of this empirical study.