This study explores the role of arts management in regional economic development within major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Cultural organizations—such as museums, theaters, and galleries—contribute significantly to local economies through tourism, job creation, and the enhancement of cultural branding. Using a qualitative approach, 18 semi-structured interviews with arts managers and policymakers selected based on their influential roles in cultural organizations across these cities. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, which identified key themes including the economic impact of cultural organizations, the influence of government policies, challenges in arts management, and the role of cultural tourism in fostering regional growth. The findings reveal that while government policies play a pivotal role in supporting cultural organizations, providing crucial funding, tax incentives, and infrastructure development, concerns remain about the long-term sustainability of funding due to shifting political and economic priorities. Additionally, arts managers face challenges related to balancing artistic goals with financial viability, particularly as the sector becomes increasingly competitive and technology-dependent. Key challenges identified include securing stable funding sources, adapting to digital technologies, talent retention, and maintaining artistic integrity amid commercial pressures. The study highlights the need for diversified funding models such as public-private partnerships and alternative revenue streams and suggests further exploration into the role of smaller cultural organizations in rural regions to promote inclusive regional development. Practical recommendations include developing strategies to enhance financial sustainability, investing in digital capabilities, and formulating policies that provide long-term support for the cultural sector. Overall, the research contributes to a better understanding of how effective arts management can drive regional economic development and offers practical recommendations for strengthening the sustainability of China’s cultural sector.
COVID-19 has amplified existing imbalances, institutional and financing constraints associated with a development strategy that did not take sufficient account of challenges with emissions, environmental damage and health risks associated with climate change in a number of countries, including China. The recovery from the pandemic can be combined with appropriately designed investments that take into account human, social, natural and physical capital, as well as distributional objectives, that can also address commitments under the Paris agreement. An important criterion for sustainable development is that the tax regimes at the national and sub-national levels should reflect the same criteria as the investment strategy. Own-source revenues, are essential to be able to access private financing, including local government bonds and PPPs in a sustainable manner. Governance criteria are also important including information on the buildup of liabilities at all levels of government, to ensure transparent governance.
Despite differences in political systems, the Chinese experiences are relevant in a wide range of emerging market countries as the measures utilize institutions and policies reflecting international best practices, including modern tax administrations for the VAT, and income taxes, and benefit-linked property taxes, as well as utilization of balance sheets information consistent with the IMF’s Government Financial Statistics Manual, 2014. The options have significant implications for policy advice and development cooperation for meeting global climate change goals while ensuring sustainable employment generation with transparency and accountability.
[Objective] To understand the relationship between species diversity and tree growth in natural secondary forests in Northeast China, to determine the reasonable size of species diversity, and to carry out appropriate nurturing harvesting and artificial replanting, so as to provide a scientific and theoretical basis for secondary forest management and management. [Methods] A total of 123 sample plots were set up in the Xiaoxinganling (XXAL), Zhangguangcailing (ZGCL), Laojialing (LYL), Changbai Mountain (CBS), Hadaling (HDL) and Longgang Mountain (LGS) areas in Northeast China, they were used to investigate the species composition, importance value, diversity and tree growth in each area. [Results] A total of 48 species belonging to 17 families and 31 genera were investigated in all the sample plots, among which the sample plots in Longgang Mountain contained the largest number of families, genera and species, followed by Hada Ling, Changbai Mountain, Laoyaling, Zhangguangcai Mountain and Xiaoxinganling. The α-diversity index of species in the sample sites was the largest in Changbai Mountain and the smallest in Xiaoxinganling, and the difference between them was significant (P < 0.05), while the richness index was the largest in Longgang Mountain and the smallest in Xiaoxinganling. The difference between them was significant (P < 0.05), while the greater the difference in latitude between the regions, the more obvious the difference in β-diversity index of species in the sample sites, and the fewer species shared between the two regions. The higher the rate of community succession, the higher the average diameter at breast height and the average tree height in each region were CBS > LYL > LGS > ZGCL > HDL > XXAL. The largest breast tree species in each region was Mongolian oak in Changbai Mountain with a diameter at breast height of 64.8 cm, and the smallest breast tree species in each region was Tyrannus sylvestris in Longgang Mountain with a diameter at breast height of 4.0 cm. The highest tree species in each region was Liriodendron sylvestris in Longgang Mountain with a height of 28.9 m, and the smallest species is yellow pineapple with a height of 1.3 m in Longgang Mountain. [Conclusion] Within a certain range, species diversity has a facilitating effect on the average diameter at breast height and average tree height of species within a stand. Therefore, during the management of secondary forests, appropriate nurturing harvesting and artificial replanting should be adopted to ensure reasonable species diversity in the stands and provide optimal space for the growth of natural secondary forests.
Industrial heritage is a legacy from the past that we live with today and pass on to future generations. The economic value of this heritage can be defined as the amount of welfare that it generates for society, and this value should not be ignored. However, current research based on economic analysis has mostly focused on qualitative statements instead of quantitative assessment. This study proposes an innovative methodology combining qualitative (field research) and quantitative (willingness to pay and contingent valuation) methods to assess the economic value of industrial heritage. The industrial heritage of Tangshan, China, was chosen as a case study, and the research found that museums and cultural creative parks are effective ways to conserve industrial heritage. The entrance fee can be used to represent the economic value of the heritage site. There was a positive correlation between the influence of economic value and the entrance fees residents would prefer to pay. The results indicate the locals would prefer lower entrance fees for the transformed heritage museums (The average current cost: $2.23). Locals were most concerned about the entrance fees for the Kailuan Coal Mine and Qixin Cement Plant Museums, which have both been renewed as urban landmarks for city tourism. Renewal methods have been applied to six industrial heritage sites in Tangshan; these sites have their own conservation and renewal practices based on city-level development or industrial attributes. Thus, when residents recognize the economic value of a heritage site, they are willing to pay a higher entrance fee. This research demonstrates the economic value of industrial heritage using a mixed methods approach and provides a basis for assessing the value of cultural heritage for urban tourism analysis.
The architecture and engineering industry employs resource-efficient sustainable building design (SBDC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate environmental damage. This study examines the understanding and practice of SBDC among Chinese architecture students. A survey of 555 undergraduates from China’s architecture universities was conducted. Two independent and seven dependent variables were analyzed to evaluate the impact of academic stages and practical experiences on students’ awareness. The findings reveal that over 70% of respondents consider SBDC important in architecture. More than half have taken courses with over 30% SBDC content. However, 45.85% of respondents only have a basic understanding of SBDC. This result underscores the significance of educational disparities, this insufficiency is likely due to inadequate coverage and representation of SBDC in the curriculum. Our study highlights the necessity of enhancing SBDC-related education within the current curriculum framework to ensure all students receive a systematic and comprehensive knowledge of sustainable building design.
