Economic Geography and Regional Growth in China

Since late 1970s scholars have done much research on it, but conclusions from different scholars may differ in many ways. It is mainly due to different analytic approaches, perspectives, spatial units, statistical indicators and different periods for studies. On the basis of previous analyses and findings, we have done some further quantitative computation and empirical study, and revealed the inter-provincial disparity and regional disparity of economic development and their evolution trends from 1952—2000. The main conclusions are: ① Regional disparity in economic development in China, including the inter-provincial disparity, inter-regional disparity and intra-regional disparity, has existed for years. ② Gini coefficient and Theil coefficient have revealed a similar dynamic trend for comparative disparity in economic development between provinces in China. From 1952 to 1978, except for the "Great Leap Forward" period, comparative disparity basically assumes a upward tre...

Asian Economic Papers, 2002

Page 1. Geography, Economic Policy, and Regional Development in China Geography, Economic Policy, and Regional Development in China* Sylvie Démurger Jeffrey D. Sachs Wing Thye Woo Shuming Bao Gene Chang ...

China Economic Review, 2002

Regional Development Studies, 2003

Since late 1970s scholars have done much research on it, but conclusions from different scholars may differ in many ways. It is mainly due to different analytic approaches, perspectives, spatial units, statistical indicators and different periods for studies. On the basis of previous analyses and findings, we have done some further quantitative computation and empirical study, and revealed the inter-provincial disparity and regional disparity of economic development and their evolution trends from 1952—2000. The main conclusions are: ① Regional disparity in economic development in China, including the inter-provincial disparity, inter-regional disparity and intra-regional disparity, has existed for years. ② Gini coefficient and Theil coefficient have revealed a similar dynamic trend for comparative disparity in economic development between provinces in China. From 1952 to 1978, except for the "Great Leap Forward" period, comparative disparity basically assumes a upward trend and it assumed a slowly downward trend from 1979 to1990. Afterwards from 1991 to 2000 the disparity assumed a slowly upward trend again. In other words, the strategy of regional balanced development before the reform and opening up did not bring us a reduction in comparative disparity of regional economic development, nor did the lopsided development strategy implemented since then bring us an expansion of comparative disparity of regional economic development in China. ③ A comparison between Shanghai and Guizhou shows that absolute inter-provincial disparity has been quite big for years. The disparity of economic development between the two provinces expanded till 1978 and reduced after the reform and opening up. Since 1990 the disparity began to expand for the second times with a slight drop in 1998. ④ The R/S analysis result tell us that In the "Great Cultural Revolution" period, i.e. 1966-1978, the Hurst exponent H=0.504≈0.5, indicates that in this period the evolution of comparative inter-provincial disparity of economic development showed a random characteristic, and In the other period, i.e. 1952-1965, 1979-1990 and 1991-2000, the Hurst exponent H>0.5 indicates that in this period the evolution of the comparative inter-provincial disparity of economic development in China has a long-enduring characteristic.

2006

There have been heated debates over the extent, causal mechanisms, and consequences of regional inequality in China and the proper policy intervention. The central government considers struggling poorer regions and the widening coastal-interior gap as serious threats to China's prosperity, stability, and unity, and has launched the Great Western Development Strategy. Given the massive scale of the region and its tremendous diversity, more work is needed on regional development in interior China and on how effective the Chinese government has been in developing its western region. This paper broadens the study of regional inequality in provincial China by focusing on the poorer western provinces through a case study of Gansu Province. We examine the extent and process of regional development in Gansu and its Hexi Corridor, and investigate the geographical and structural challenges facing a western province. We have found that despite the government's western development polic...

Regional Studies, 2008

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The Professional Geographer, 2000

Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 2010

THE MYSTERY OF EXODUS FINALLY SOLVED , 2024

The books of Genesis and Exodus of the Bible deal with the achievements and vicissitudes of a pastoral family (or clan) descended from the patriarch Abraham, their stay in Egypt, initially as guests and later oppressed and enslaved, and their epic departure from Egypt led by Moses. Their God Yahweh provides them with prophecies, promises, alliances, blessings and curses, punishments for disobedience and forgiveness. The main objective of this article is to propose perhaps the only theory to reconcile the 400-year (or 430) hiatus of oppression and slavery in Egypt of the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14), considering that in this story, there are two escapes or exoduses from Egypt, remembered and merged as one. Furthermore, the interpretation of Yahweh´s “prophecy” (invented by the scribes long after it had occurred) of the 400 years of stay in Egypt of Abraham's descendants (oppressed and enslaved), must be considered from Abraham's arrival to Canaan (c.1870 BC), tributary of Egypt, until the liberating Exodus (c.1447 BC). Indeed, the Bible text based on the Septuagint establishes it: 430 years in a strange land, Canaan and Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41). The genealogy defined in the book of Exodus points to four generations from Joseph (c.1720 BC) to Moses, so the Exodus led by Moses would occur around 1620 BC, with the total departure of the descendants of Israel. However, the book 1 Kings 6:1 says that the Exodus occurred 480 years before the construction of Solomon's temple began (967 BC), that is, in 1447 BC, during the reign of Thutmose III and his co-regency with Amenophis II. On this occasion, the exodus would be the escape of enslaved prisoners taken to Egypt from Canaan by the conquering pharaohs. In fact, Bible scholars have identified two versions of Exodus and the miracle at the Sea; in one Moses (empowered by Jehovah) parts the waters of the Sea to let the Israelites pass (c.1620 BC), and in the other Moses is not mentioned (because he was not present) and the fleeing slaves watch as a gigantic wave drowns Pharaoh's army. The memory of this exodus or escape merges with a previous one and is remembered as if it had only happened once, 480 years before the construction of Solomon's temple began, that is, 1447 BC.

Conference at the Princeton Athens Center, 10-11 July 2024