Lessons of eco-transition of a rural small town: The case of Manzhuang China from raw material processing industries to a circular economy

Yu, Li ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5547-9862, Jia, Ning and Li, Mo 2025. Lessons of eco-transition of a rural small town: The case of Manzhuang China from raw material processing industries to a circular economy. Resources Policy 101 , 105484. 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105484

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Abstract

Eco-transition has been a national priority policy in China. However, underdeveloped areas, such as small towns in rural areas, may face challenges in pursuing this policy due to a shortage of resources and externalities. This research, based on ecological modernisation theory, carried out a case study of Manzhuang, China, to explore how comparatively underdeveloped areas cope with the requirement of eco-transition to a circular economy from raw material processing industries. The research found that eco-transition guided by the concept of eco-modernisation requires integrated social, institutional, technological, and various sub-systems transformation as a whole. It is also necessary to take into account changes in the market. It is not enough to consider the improvement of technology alone. The research also showed that the socio-economic bottleneck relating to middle-stage industrialisation and fierce regional competition for investment has led to a dilemma in implementing such a policy agenda. This situation is particularly acute in underdeveloped areas. It is argued in the research that the local application of a circular economy as a means of implementing sustainable development may lose its significance without macroeconomic restructuring and regional coordination if it is to be achieved in comparatively underdeveloped areas.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0301-4207
Funders:	Tianjin Graduate Student Research and Innovation Program
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 January 2025
Date of Acceptance:	16 January 2025
Last Modified:	22 Jan 2025 11:37
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175367

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