By Craig Coleman, NRC Project Coordinator

In partnership with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) is collaborating with faculty at the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) in Beijing, China, to increase China’s understanding of small town and city development. This work is sponsored by the ICMA China Center, a partnership between ICMA and CUPL. Undoubtedly the investigation is critical. 

According to the World Bank:

“Since initiating market reforms in 1978, China has shifted from a centrally planned to a market based economy and experienced rapid economic and social development. GDP growth averaging about 10 percent a year has lifted more than 500 million people out of poverty.”

China expects this explosive growth to continue and anticipates 20 million people every year will move from rural areas into towns and cities through the year 2030.  In a recent speech to the Sino-European Urbanization Partnership, Premier Li Keqiang described that, as urbanization of China continues, they, “need to take the road of sustainable development with the economical and intensive use of resources, the protection of natural ecosystems and cultural characteristics, as well as of developing both medium and small cities and small towns.”

NRC is proud to provide its 20 years of expertise to the CUPL in measuring all aspects of urban development and management. By sharing our methodologies and counsel we not only work to augment the University’s efforts to develop a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the different modes for the development of small towns in China, but we also aim to support the creation of a comparable reference between understanding urbanization in China and the United States.  This is an incredible opportunity to learn about urban development and management and contribute to a broader understanding of best practices.

CUPL is a multidisciplinary research university directly under the Ministry of Education. The University focuses on law, accompanied with a variety of other disciplines such as philosophy, economics, literature, science and management. In its 60 years’ development, CUPL has fostered more than 200,000 graduates of different levels, taken part in virtually every legislation activity of the state since its foundation and led the jurisprudence theoretical innovation as well as the legal conceptual renewal of China, representing its international exchanges in the field of law.

National Research Center, Inc. (NRC) is a leader in the field of public sector research and evaluation, with clients from across the country and around the globe. The firm is comprised of a skilled team of social scientists who supports cities, counties, foundations and nonprofit organizations in using research to help communities thrive. NRC pioneered the development of The National Citizen Survey™ (NCS), and continues to offer a suite of products designed to enhance the public voice and aid local decision-making.

The ICMA China Center will sponsor the ICMA International Regional Summit in Yangzhou, China, in May 2014. The theme of the summit is Eco-Friendly Urbanization.