Unveiling the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving factors of water infrastructure financialization in China

ABSTRACT Financialization is an emerging and crucial means to address the challenge of funding the water infrastructure development shortage. However, the spatio-temporal characteristics and influencing mechanisms of the state-based water financialization remain unclear. To this end, this study constructed an indicator of the water infrastructure financialization(WIF), using China as a typical case, and thoroughly investigated the spatio-temporal characteristics and driving factors of the WIF in China from 2008 to 2020 based on spatial analysis methods. The results show that the current level of WIF in China is not high, and the construction of water infrastructure mainly relies on the traditional model led by the government. The spatial distribution shows a pattern of gradient decline from Henan and Zhejiang as the center to the surrounding areas. The uneven development of WIF has been improved under the effect of policies. The urbanization and demand for water infrastructure are the main driving factors affecting regional water financialization. The interaction of the driving factors has a more obvious impact on WIF. This study enriches the global knowledge system of infrastructure financialization and provides a reference value for other developing countries regarding water infrastructure financing.