The embeddedness and hidden political economy of the world heritage site inscription boom in China

China's rapid increase in UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) inscriptions since the mid-1980s is driven by embedded political and economic interests across multiple scales, rather than solely by heritage protection or tourism development. This study reveals that WHS nominations serve as a strategic tool for addressing diplomatic agendas, enhancing national prestige, and balancing regional development at international and national levels. Locally, inscriptions provide a pretext for ambitious developmental projects, enabling local governments to bypass financial constraints and accelerate growth in tourism and real estate industries. The research employs the concept of embeddedness to analyze how China's decentralized institutional environment—marked by power shifts, fiscal reforms, and cadre evaluation systems—fuels this boom. By examining cases like Wulingyuan and the South China Karst, the study exposes the hidden political economy underpinning China's WHS inscription craze.

Huang, K., & Liu, Y. (2023). The embeddedness and hidden political economy of the world heritage site inscription boom in China. Growth and Change, 54(2), 572–595. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/grow.12665