Rail-Induced Social Changes in Central Guangzhou, China

Abstract

The economic benefits of rail development are well researched, but the social effects of rail are largely understudied, especially in China. We analyze the association between educational attainment level and urban rail development using the 2000 and 2010 census data from Central Guangzhou, China, and a linear mixed-effects modeling approach. Our results indicate that the change in education level is greater in rail neighborhoods than in non-rail neighborhoods in the central area of Guangzhou, and that the rail/metro-induced effect on educational attainment level is evidenced. This research contributes to the existing literature by exploring a new method for this line of research and providing empirical evidence of social changes in a city that has experienced rapid economic growth and pioneered rail development in China, a developing country. The limitations and implications of the research are discussed.