城镇化测定方法的理论思考与案例研究

THEORETICAL THINKING AND CASE STUDY ON MEASUREMENT OF URBANIZATION LEVEL

城镇化水平测定的核心是界定城镇地域和城镇人口,建国以来,我国城镇地域和城镇人口界定标准经历了多次变化,本文系统梳理了我国不同时期城镇地域和城镇人口的界定标准,并进行了评述。基于城镇化的内涵,借鉴国外比较成熟的做法,从我国实际情况出发,提出了不打破行政区划、分政区层次、按照人口密度界定城镇地域的研究理念,其中,"区级"政区人口密度应超过2000人/km2,"镇街级"政区人口密度应超过3000人/km2,"村居级"政区人口密度应超过1000人/km2。在曲阜市、嘉祥县的应用研究表明,该方法具有较强的可操作性,测定的结果比较符合实际。

There are usually three kinds of methods to measure the level of urbanization： the indicator of population method, the indicator of land-using method and composite indicator method. Among these methods, the indicator of urban population rate is most commonly used. As a basis of counting urban population, the correct urban-rural division is an important component in socio-economic statistics. Research on urban and rural area division method has the vital significance both in theory and practice. However, there is no criterion in dividing the urban-rural area and counting urban population. It is hard to evaluate the level of urbanization. Urban areas maybe conceived as administrative, functional and physical entities. In China, there is an obvious discrepancies between urban administrative boundaries and the ＇real＇ urban space. Almost the administrative area of all cities and towns are much larger than the urban built-up area. As a result, vast rural areas and large agricultural population were included in the urban count. Here lies the principal difference with western countries. Obviously, it is difficult if not impossible for us to solve the contradiction by reducing the adminis- trative area of a city or town. The authors believe that, it is essential to establish the concept of physical urban area with both adaptability to Chinese conditions and international comparability and make it the basis of urban-rural division and statistics.In this study, methods for identifying the urban population have been discussed and improved. The definition of urban area and urban population is the key to measure the level of urbanization. Based on the connotations of urbanization and China＇s actual situation, using more mature ap- proaches from abroad, the paper proposes a new concept on urban area definition that considers different levels of administrative region and keeps the integrality of Administrative Region and also considers the population density. According to administrative region, different indexes are selected, and the corresponding critical values are calculated to measure the level of urbanization. In the end, a case study of Qufu city and Jiaxiang county is carried out by using the new method. It shows that this method is not only operable but also in ac- cordance with the objective facts and will work properly in a wide range.