Governing the Transformation of Resources into Shared Benefits: A Process Model of Multi-actor Urban-rural Integration

Abstract

Urban-rural inequality remains a persistent challenge for regional development worldwide, particularly in contexts where rapid urbanization coexists with structurally constrained rural systems. While existing studies have documented disparities in income, infrastructure, and public services, less attention has been paid to the institutional mechanisms through which urban resources are transformed into sustainable rural benefits. This study examines how institutional arrangements construct durable benefit linkages in urban-rural integration processes. Drawing on a multi-case qualitative research design, the study analyzes evidence from Wenzhou, China, including semi-structured interviews with government officials, enterprise managers, village leaders, and cooperative representatives, as well as policy documents, project contracts, and process tracing of integration initiatives. The analysis follows a theory-building logic to uncover underlying governance mechanisms rather than evaluate outcomes alone. The findings identify three core mechanisms that shape integration performance: resource coordination, which organizes the flow of land, capital, and talent across urban-rural boundaries; benefit linkage, which institutionalizes the distribution of rewards and risks among actors; and governance synergy, which enables coordination and trust within multi-actor arrangements. Based on cross-case comparison, the study further develops four typologies of urban-rural integration mechanisms-platform-mediated, industrial embedding, cooperative-led, and project-driven-each characterized by distinct institutional logics and governance modes. The study contributes to the literature by advancing a process model of urban-rural integration governance that shifts analytical focus from outcomes to mechanisms. It also offers policy-relevant insights by highlighting institutional design principles that support sustainable, adaptable, and scalable integration strategies. To enhance empirical transparency, the study draws on multiple sources of qualitative evidence from designated urban-rural integration pilot areas in Wenzhou. The analysis is grounded in a substantial body of field materials, including semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, documentary evidence, and case-level project tracing. This empirical foundation strengthens the interpretive validity of the proposed process model and clarifies the scope and scale of the research.