Framing non-hierarchical city networks—An analysis of the APS firms’ intra-relations in China

Keywords: network, APS, Chinese cities, backbone, SDSM
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

In the world city network (WCN) analysis, the advanced producer service (APS) firms are the network-makers that make the links between the cities connected through the service process. Based on the WCN theory, this paper re-examines the internal relations of APS firms in China as a case study. To illustrate, we apply the stochastic degree sequence model (SDSM) to form new city networks. We present the results through the APS value data for 2016 from Globalization and world cities (GaWC) to identify cities that play a more significant role in the relations among Chinese cities in the network. To reveal our findings more clearly, we divided China into four economic regions (i.e. Northeast, Central, Eastern, and Western) based on the division of economic policies. Our findings show that: (1) The external connections of coastal cities are still stronger than those of inland cities on the whole. (2) Several cities in the Midwest and Northeast still need to be expanded the scale of the market to strengthen their economic vitality. (3) The weakening centrality of cities specifically such as, Beijing and Shanghai Guangzhou amplify the significant links between small cities relatively. Through this paper, we could see how Chinese cities connect and interact with each other regardless of their hierarchy. This study is worth further exploration to observe the global city networks based on each circumstance of finance, advertising, insurance, and law.