Governance Configurations Driving Equity and Sustainability in Concentration Cities: A Cross-Contextual Crisp-Set QCA

Abstract

Concentration cities where economic activity, administrative power, and infrastructure coalesce within a compact urban core offer unparalleled productivity gains but also exacerbate spatial inequities, infrastructure stress, and environmental challenges. While prior research has richly documented individual policy tools (e.g., congestion pricing, inclusionary zoning, smart‐city platforms), three critical gaps persist: governance instruments are typically studied in isolation; single‐city case analyses hinder cross‐contextual transferability; and there is a paucity of governance‐focused metrics linking specific interventions to equity and sustainability outcomes, especially in peripheral and informal settlements. To address these gaps, this study employs crisp‐set Qualitative Comparative Analysis on a globally diverse sample of 25 concentration cities, coding eight evaluative dimensions, economic conditions, governance policy, demographic trends, environmental performance, social factors, technology and innovation, cultural assets, and global connectivity—against a composite Concentration City Quality Index (CCQ). We derive minimal causal pathways that reveal how combinations of policy levers and contextual factors drive high‐quality versus underperforming urban outcomes, and we propose an integrated governance framework that orchestrates instruments across scales and sectors. By applying set‐theoretic methods to uncover cross‐contextual causal configurations, this study contributes an empirically grounded governance framework that guides policymakers in balancing efficiency, equity, and sustainability within concentration cities.