Rapid urbanization and industrialization in China's metropolitan regions put pressure on rural ecosystems and livelihoods. A case study in Yangtze River Delta villages reveals that environmental policies shape institutional processes and rural transformation, highlighting two development strategies: state-sponsored development (Yu) and grassroots entrepreneurship (Daxi). Findings suggest that sustainable livelihood strategies are not strictly top-down or bottom-up but are shaped by complex institutional dynamics.

Yan, S., & Chen, C. (2024). Rural transformation and sustainable livelihood approaches under regional environmental policies: Evidence from two villages in the Yangtze River Delta metropolitan region, China. Sustainable Development, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3195