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| A COMPREHENSIVE APPRAISAL OF THE LEVEL OF URBANIZATION IN CHINA |
| GE Yong-jun, XU Xue-qiang, YAN Xiao-pei |
| Center for Urban & Regional Studies, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510275, China |
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Abstract Urban researchers usually use the percentage of urban population to measure the level of urbanization in a country.In China, how ever, it is difficult to gain the accurate number of urban population.
There are two reasons:firstly, the definition of a city is not certain in China.Chinese government has issued several designation criteria for cities and towns since 1955.Secondly, China does not establish the concept of urban statistical area, such as the SMSA in USA.These two reasons make it hard to know the real amount of urban population and the real level of urbanization in China.
However, China's registration system kept continuous records of non-agricultural population. For the second best choice, Chinese urban researchers usually use the non-agricultural population in urban area to measure the level of urbanization in China, and they conclude that the level of urbanization in China is lower than its counterparts with the same GDP per capita.In fact, the number of non-agricultural population in urban area underestimates the real amount of urban residents, because it does not include the lodging population in cities.After revising the mistake, the author found that the level of urbanization in China is equal to or at most a little less than the average level of urbanization in countries with the same GDP per capita.
When putting the size of urban population and the amount of urban economy in China together, the author has a strong feeling to suspect and challenge the popular view that the level of urbanization in China is lower than its counterparts with the same GDP per capita.The author puts forward a new concept of the absolute level of urbanization to measure the adaptability of urban population with urban economy.
The author thinks that cities in China are crowded now, and the emphasis of future urbanization should be placed on the planning of new cities and the appropriate expansion of existing cities, especially the big cities.Some institutional innovations must be made to provide a favorable environment for urban development.
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Received: 23 July 2001
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2003, Vol. 18 
