Regional Wage Inequality in China, 1996-2010

This paper examines regional wage inequality in China between 1996 to 2010, subdividing that time span into a period of increased wage inequality during 1996-2002 and one of stable to decreasing inequality for 2003-2010. Based on the interplay between wage levels and wage growth, the authors develop a typology whereby China's provinces can be assigned to either peripheral, emerging, lagging, or leading regions. The particular characteristics associated with each type of wage region, and the factors underlying shifts of particular provinces from one category to another between the two periods, enable them to identify specific causes for the reversal (after 2002) of the trend toward increasing wage inequality (the causes especially reflect wage patterns in the mining and energy industries, information and communication technology industries, and foreign-invested enterprises). The recent wage convergence involves instances of both interior provinces advancing from the "emerging" to the "leading" wage category as well as the decline of a few "leading" coastal provinces to "lagging" status.     

Analyzing Regional Inequality in Post-Mao China in a GIS Environment

Regional inequality in China has attracted considerable scholarly attention, but the use of geographic information system (GIS) techniques for rigorous analysis remains limited. This paper utilizes recent data and GIS and spatial statistical techniques to analyze changing patterns of regional inequality in China from 1978 to 2000. It also identifies the changing clusters of regional development in China. We illustrate that regional inequality in China is sensitive to development trajectories of the provinces, and that conventional measures of regional inequality mask geographical clustering. Patterns of change are explained by both contextual and regression analyses. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: F21, G32, P31. 16 figures, 3 tables, 30 references.     

Patterns of Regional Inequality in Transition Economies

This paper provides a comparative account of important aspects of regional development in transition economies, on the basis of regional statistics available for Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. More specifically it examines the geographical pattern of disparities, the convergence/divergence trends that have taken place at the regional level and the relation of regional disparities to the process of transition. It is found that spatial adjustments under transition favour metropolitan and western regions, especially in countries sharing common borders with the European Union (EU) and being a short distance from the European core. In addition, disparities have increased at various rates and degrees in transition countries to levels that are higher than most of the EU countries. Given that the catch-up process, which favours more often efficiency than equity policies, has a long way to go, the regional problems in these countries may take alarming, by EU standards, dimensions.     

1949～1952年中国弱势群体研究

弱势群体一般是指那些在特定历史时期,由于某些障碍及缺乏经济、政治和社会机会而在社会上处在不利地位的、被国家和社会纳入救助范围的社会群体。1949～1952年,中国弱势群体主要包括灾民、失业者、妓女、乞丐和孤老病残等,其存在原因首要的是自然地理因素,其次是社会转型因素与历史遗留问题。弱势群体的情况一定程度上决定了新中国社会救助制度的初始选择。     

Roads to Inequality: Infrastructure and Historically Grown Regional Differences in the Markham Valley,Papua New Guinea

Roads are one of the most salient symbols of development and modernity for rural citizens of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Multinational corporations, members of parliament, and villagers frequently point to roads as a key to development. However, while roads routinely improve the incomes of those connected, many of their effects are far less scrutable. Here, we examine the economic and social consequences of two roads, the Wau‐Bulolo Highway and Highlands Highway, for two villages in PNG's Morobe Province, and consider the processes that make their outcomes so different. Tracing the history of the two highways and considering a contrasting pair of case‐studies, we explore how roads simultaneously bolster income and drive interregional economic divergence. We demonstrate how the spatial and historical contexts the Highways run through, coupled with the relationships of patronage and dependence they rely on, produce contingent social outcomes and shape local ambivalence towards the outcomes of roads.     

20世纪90年代中国区域经济发展的历史考察与基本经验

从20世纪90年代初开始,中国区域经济发展开始由非均衡发展转向区域协调发展。区域协调发展战略的形成有着特定的历史与现实背景。1991年和1999年是中国区域战略大调整的转折点,1991年开始强调区域协调发展,1999年正式提出西部大开发战略。随着区域经济政策的制定与实施,中国区域经济格局发生了深刻变化。考察中国区域经济发展历程,其基本经验对中国未来区域发展有着重要的启示与借鉴意义。     

Structural Change and Regional Disparities in Xinjiang,China

The paper by a noted American geographer and a specialist based in Germany examines and analyzes recent economic growth and structural change in the strategically significant and resource-rich (including oil and gas deposits) region of Xinjiang. The authors identify regional variation in the trajectory of economic development at the urban and county levels, employing conceptual approaches related to structural shifts in economic sectors and focusing on shifts in employment from agriculture to activities in the secondary and tertiary sectors. They also investigate the role of the tertiary sector using a labor transition model, examining its functioning in the context of the industrial sector's absorption of labor in the transitional economy of China. Calculations are based on the most recent official statistical data released by national and regional governments and available at present (mid-2006). Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J21, J24, O18, R11. 9 figures, 4 tables, 45 references.     

20世纪90年代上海产业布局的发展变化

20世纪90年代,着眼于城市功能的重新定位,按照"三、二、一"产业发展新思路,上海的产业布局进行了重大的战略调整,逐步形成了中心城以三产为主、郊区以二产为主的大都市产业布局架构。在各类工业区建设的基础上,上海又突出发展形成了"东南西北"四大产业基地。由此,上海产业布局呈现出一个明显特征,就是第二产业立足于城市功能重塑、提高工业产业的竞争力,通过加强对重大产业项目的"政策聚焦",确立了空间发展的内环整合战略和"东西南北"发展战略,依托都市工业园区和城郊工业区,大大提高了产业聚集度。     

中国从农业文明向工业文明的过渡——对中国资本主义萌芽及相关诸问题研究的反思

中国具有源远流长、从未间断的明,这在世界上是罕见的。然而,当西方世界发生工业革命并因此而取得飞速发展之后,在人们看待中国的眼神中,既有对她过去的钦羡,也有对她现在的不屑。于是,大家在追问：为什么中国会变得如此落后?——对此,我们曾提出过许多解释,其中影响最大的是从资本主义的产生、近(现)代化以及科学技术等方面所进行的探讨。然而,这些研究角度或概念,不同程度地存在着偏差,导致了对这一问题认识的误区。     

中国的地域文化

地域文化其实就是最能够体现一个空间范围内有特点的文化类型,它表现在方言、饮食、民居、婚丧节庆、民间信仰等方面,它产生的原因是地理环境、移民、政治权力和行政区划、民族、宗教以及外来文化。地域文化构成了丰富多彩的中国文化,体现了中国文化的生命力。地域文化的研究与发展有利于保存和延续中国传统文化。随着生产力的发展,交通运输的改善,人口流动的加快,信息手段的进步,一部分地域文化将不可避免的会消失,而地域文化越来越趋同也是不可避免要发生的。以往对地域文化大多属于消极保护,如今只有积极的去做好保护工作,才能避免完全灭绝。把我们凡是能够保存的古代遗存尽可能的保存下来,不是为了我们今后能够再回到古代,而是让我们能够欣赏、怀念、追忆我们的古代文明。     

An Analysis of Migration Streams for the Canadian Regional System, 1952–1983 1. Migration Probabilities

This is part one of a two-part series that seeks to specify the factors and processes contributing to aggregate change in the Canadian population distribution over the recent past. In part one, we use a model of migration probabilities to identify socioeconomic factors that explain the observed interregional migration flows. In part two, we use an adjustment process for our regional population system to calculate equilibrium population distributions. The estimated migration probabilities of part one are essential for this calculation, thus linking equilibria with the socioeconomic factors previously identified. Disequilibrium, defined as the difference between observed and equilibrium population distributions, is then used to infer relative growth and decline tendencies in the system. We examine and justify our results in the larger context of contemporary Canadian history.     

An Analysis of Migration Streams for the Canadian Regional System, 1952–1983: 2. Disequilibrium

This is part two of a two-part series that seeks to specify the factors and processes contributing to aggregate change in the Canadian population distribution over the recent past. In part one, we use a model of migration probabilities to identify socioeconomic factors that explain the observed interregional migration flows. In part two, we use an adjustment process for our regional population system to calculate equilibrium population distributions. The estimated migration probabilities of part one are essential for this calculation, thus linking equilibria with the socioeconomic factors previously identified. Disequilibrium, defined as the difference between observed and equilibrium population distributions, is then used to infer relative growth and decline tendencies in the system. We examine and justify our results in the larger context of contemporary Canadian history.     

Metropolitan Income Inequality During the 1980s: The Impact of Urban Development, Industrial Mix, and Family Structure

The empirical analysis in this paper explores the interurban variation in family income distribution. The results point to increasing urban development, rising female-headship, a widening educational distribution, and changes in the industrial and occupational mix as major contributing factors to rising inequality. However, the increase in the relative number of multiple worker families was a significant mitigating force to rising inequality. A decomposition of 1979 and 1989 cross-sectional models revealed that while changes in urban family and industrial characteristics have been sources of rising inequality, there has been significant structural change in the urban models acting to decrease inequality.     

Industrial Heritage Tourism and Regional Restructuring in the European Union

This paper explores the current trend among traditional industrial regions in Europe to launch initiatives in the field of 'industrial heritage tourism'. Increasingly, restoring and exploiting former industrial sites for touristic purposes is regarded as a useful strategy for regional renewal. After having discussed its background and categories, we argue that, theoretically, industrial heritage tourism could be an interesting 'new combination' for industrial areas in the European service economy. In practice, however, its effects for regional restructuring might be limited. Therefore, we suggest to re-use Europe's industrial heritage also for other economic activities than only tourism.     

20世纪90年代以来的中国宏观经济政策调整

20世纪90年代以来,中国政府的宏观经济政策经历了三次较大的调整。即:1993-1996年政府实行了适度从紧的财政、货币政策,降低高通胀率,使国民经济顺利实现第一次“软着陆”;1998-2002年财政货币政策由适度从紧转向积极有限度扩张,扩大内需,降低高失业率,使国民经济顺利实现第二次“软着陆”;2003年下半年至今政府采取稳健的财政货币政策,加强宏观调控,抑制部分行业投资增长过快,减缓物价上涨压力,对保持经济平稳较快发展而避免大起大落起到了显著的作用。     

1990年代《美国历史评论》的中国研究

作为美国社会中一个较大的学术群体,美国历史学家的中国研究对于我们了解美国知识分子的中国观具有很大的参照意义。最权威的美国史学刊物——《美国历史评论》——在20世纪90年代所发表的中国研究文章便从一个极为重要的角度展示了美国史学界的中国研究在最近十年的主要线索:中国的传统儒家思维方式左右着中国近现代的社会发展和对外交往。     

方言、二人转与东北地域文化问题

东北的地域文化中有突出的喜剧感,东北人爱笑爱闹,向来不缺乏体会幽默的能力。在他们精神世界中,肆意放恣的笑是被用作超越日常生活的感性武器,发挥着重要的功能。通过笑所促成的"狂欢的世界感受"引领人们进入到一种特殊的时空中,在这里,人们悬置了对社会世界的常规判断,摆脱了日常生活的无奈与凡庸