Land use transitions and urban-rural integrated development: Theoretical framework and China’s evidence

This paper establishes the analytical framework of the driving mechanism of land use transitions on urban-rural integrated development. The evolution rules and spatio-temporal patterns of land use transitions and urban-rural integrated development in China were quantitatively analyzed using the methods of kernel density and spatial analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between land use transitions and urban-rural integrated development was tested by the econometric models based on China’s provincial panel data from 2005 to 2016. The results show that urban-rural integrated development is a process of the reconstruction of urban-rural values. It helps to promote the free flow and equal exchange of urban-rural development elements, and achieve the convergence of returns from urban-rural development elements. The effect of land use transitions on urban-rural integrated development requires to realize the rational distribution of land incremental value in urban-rural territory. Under ideal channels, it is supposed to promote urban-rural integrated development through income effect, resource effect and urbanization effect. But urban-rural dual institution, distorted land market and obstacles to social integration may distort the positive role of land use transitions. The degree of land use transitions presented a trend of “decrease first and then increase”, and urban-rural integrated development has been improved since 2005, both of which are characterized by spatial agglomeration. Currently, land use transitions have a negative impact on urban-rural integrated development. Accordingly, some implications are formulated for policy makers to improve urban-rural integrated development form the perspective of land use transitions.