The effect of polycentric urban spatial structure on individual housing affordability in China

Source abstract

Polycentric development is increasingly promoted as a remedy for housing affordability challenges, yet systematic evidence on its effects remains limited and largely aggregate-level. Moving beyond this approach, this study examines the relationship between urban polycentricity and individual housing affordability across Chinese cities. Contrary to theoretical expectations, greater polycentricity is associated with lower affordability overall. This relationship is heterogeneous: residents in main centres and higher-income groups experience stronger affordability declines, while those in non-centre locations and lower-income households report relative improvements. City size does not significantly moderate these effects. These findings call for context-sensitive and socially attuned approaches to polycentric development.