The diffusion of the utility tunnel policy: Evidence from Chinese cities

摘要

In the process of urban expansion and development, "asset-heavy and invisible" infrastructure construction is playing an increasingly important role, which also makes people realize the importance of the diffusion of policies that need collective institutional action among Chinese cities. We examine what drives the diffusion of the new underground utility tunnel (UUT) policy with an analysis of 242 prefecture-level cities in China. The results show that horizontal competition, central government pressure and incentives, international resource utilization and image pressure, urban economic development, and administrative rank are positively and significantly associated with policy diffusion, whereas urbanization, population density, and existing underground pipelines are not significant.