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| SPATIAL-TEMPORAL CHANGE OF REGIONAL DIFFERENCES AND SPATIAL PATTERNS IN CHINA——A Case Study of Population Gravity Centers and Economic Gravity Centers |
| XU Jia-wei1, HOU Jing-wei1, SONG Hong-quan2, QIAO Jia-jun1 |
1. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China;
2. College of Geography Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China |
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Abstract From the latest data (2009) at the provincial level, the paper analyzes spatial-temporal change of regional difference and spatial pattern in China which take population gravity centers and economic gravity centers as examples, some of the conclusions can been drawn with different and even opposite viewpoints in contrast with previous research results. Compared with the geometric gravity centers, population gravity centers and economic gravity centers have shown imbalance since 1990. The policy factors, the following openness degree and the open timing differences have been the most important reasons of regional differences. The new regional policy brings the conversion of economic engine, so the role and the status of Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and other regions have changed, which could be as the main reason for changes of population gravity center and economic gravity center. Population gravity center, primary industry gravity Center and second industry gravity center will gradually move toward north and west. Economic crisis has been the main reason for a sharp jump of economic gravity centers, and the economic crisis in 1997 and 2007 caused a sharp jump respectively to the opposite orientation (north, west) against the overall trend. The rapid population growth of Guangdong Province has been one of the main reasons for continuing southwest move, and effect of economic development of the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta together has arisen southeast move for economic gravity center. Population gravity centers are more consistent with the primary industry gravity centers than others.
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Received: 25 May 2011
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2011, Vol. 26 
