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Abstract
Among Chinese cities, inter-city competition has intensified due to the emergence of a socialist market economy in post-reform China. This paper attempts to evaluate the competitiveness of 215 Chinese cities at prefecture-level or above in 1999, using a three-level hierarchical system of 55 economic, social and environmental indicators. These indicators have been chosen so that the urban competitiveness of a city can be measured in terms of its performance and explanatory indicators rather than its economic and population size. Other than economic indicators, social and environmental indicators are also counted using an equal weighting method. The urban competitiveness analysis in this paper shows that Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou were the most competitive cities in China in 1999. The relationship among three competitiveness components is revealed by a correlation analysis. There was less consistency between environmental competitiveness and economic or social competitiveness. This means that, in some cities, economic or social competitiveness does not necessarily ensure environmental competitiveness.
