Pudong’s Development and Opening-up: Foundations, Progress, and Contemporary Features An Analysis of Urban Transformations and Socioeconomic Patterns in Pudong New Area from 1990 to 2025

This Master’s Degree Thesis focuses on the transformation of Pudong from its establishment to the present day, by reconstructing the main stages and mechanisms that guided its growth. It is offered a description of the historical journey, along with the modernisation models adopted, paying particular attention to both social dynamics and to the most recent economic features. The thesis is divided into four sections. The first section focuses on the historical path that Pudong has followed, starting from the historical background to date. This part aims to provide an overview of the 35 years of its transformation, as well as the original idea and vision for Pudong’s project. The second section explores how Pudong’s development has been conducted and evolved, starting from its initial blueprint until becoming a pilot area for China. Since Pudong has been through a continuous development, the paragraphs of this sector address a variety of topics, reflecting the importance that Pudong New Area has acquired for both Shanghai and China over the years. The third section offers an investigation on Pudong’s society, considering its population, lifestyles, social experiences and problems that occurred during the development. It aims at providing insights over the feelings and issues of its citizens. The fourth and final section provides an economic analysis mainly based on Pudong New Area’s economy, investigating on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economic trends, and performances. This part also compares Pudong New Area’s GDP with that of Shanghai and of its districts, points out Pudong New Area’s contribution to China and includes an analysis on Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

本硕士学位论文讲述了浦东建立以来的发展道路，回顾了浦东建设的几个关键阶段和亮点。论文梳理了浦东的发展历史及其走过的改革开放道路，着重介绍了社会的发展和浦东的最新经济特征。 论文结构上共分四大部分。第一部分介绍了浦东从有历史背景直到今日的发展过程。第一章的目的是介绍历史上这三十五年间所经历的变迁，也说明浦东计划的由来和想法。 第二部分讲述了浦东从最初的构想发展到成为中国的实验区的过程和经历。想了解浦东这个地区持续的建设和发展，现在的章节包括谈及多个议题，反映出浦东近年变化对于上海以至全国发展的推波助澜作用。 第三部分全部聚焦于浦东本地的居民，稍后会介绍他们的生活以及居民们的生活经历和城乡一体化进程中发生的矛盾和冲突。目的是了解居民的感受和想法。 第四部分，也是最后一章，分析经济走向，浦东格外引人注目的原因是浦东的国内生产总值，了解经济走向和活力。这部份也是用上海浦东新区的国内生产总值与上及其上海其它辖区的国内生产总值水平比较之后揭示浦东对全国的影响力，分析浦东机场对整个上海和浦东经济的影响和贡献。