Selecting alternative industries for Chinese resource cities based on intra- and inter-regional comparative advantages

This paper provides a method for choosing alternative industries for resource-based cities that are confronted with resource depletion and have to restructure their industries for future development. The method integrates intra- and inter-regional comparative advantages in a two-dimensional matrix model. We applied this method in an empirical study of Jiaozuo city, China and found that the size of the pool of alternative industries depends on the strictness of the selection criteria.

► Alternative industries should have intraregional and interregional comparative advantages. ► An indicator system is built to evaluate intraregional comparative advantage. ► A comparative advantage matrix is set up to select alternative industries.