This study investigates inter-city disparities in the distribution of social amenities for four demographic groups across mainland China, moving beyond the conventional focus on knowledge-economy amenities to include relatively disadvantaged populations. It further explores the relationship between amenity distribution and China’s urban hierarchy at multiple geographical scales. Results show that amenities are disproportionately concentrated in cities with larger populations, stronger economies, and higher administrative status, reflecting the influence of demographic, economic, and political structures. Consequently, substantial geographical disparities align with regional economic imbalances. However, inequality levels vary by amenity type and social group: commercially oriented amenities, such as those targeting high-skilled professionals and women, exhibit greater inequality, whereas publicly supported amenities for older adults and children exhibit comparatively lower disparities. The study further reveals that in many smaller cities, the provision of high-skilled labor amenities tends to outstrip local demand, indicating that the role of such amenities in shaping location choices may be overestimated in less central regions. These findings highlight the need for context-sensitive urban amenity policies and greater governmental attention to mitigating inequalities in essential public amenities to promote urban equity and competitiveness.
Zhang et al. (Fri,) studied this question.