Professor Dennis Wei Receives Ford Foundation Grant
Dennis Wei, professor of geography and affiliated faculty of the Asia Center, was recently awarded a grant from the Ford Foundation on "Urban Housing and Land and Their Implications for Inequality under the Process of Urbanization in China". This project is in collaboration with colleagues in China. Congratulations, Dennis!
Project Abstract
Reducing inequality has become a top sustainable development goal of the UN's post-2015
development agenda. The issue of inequality has long been the subject of intense contention
in China. The gap between developed and less developed regions in China remains large,
and spatial concentration has even further intensified. Chinese cities have also become
more segregated and fragmented. Housing has become a major dimension and cause of
inequality, and the lack of affordable housing greatly challenges the quality of life
of migrant workers and rural residents. This project furthers our study of spatial
inequality in China by focusing on land and housing in the context of urbanization.
We are interested in understanding land development and housing conditions in Chinese
cities, especially for rural migrants and low-income families, as well as government
policies for inclusive land development, housing and urbanization in China. This project
will enhance our understanding of urbanization and inequality in China, foster an
international network for collaborative research, and shape policies towards more
equitable and sustainable urbanization.