The Middle-aged and Knowledge Workers: Demographic and Economic Changes in the Pearl River Delta, China

Demographic and economic development can be seen as two sides of one coin in the process of regional development.This article deals with how economic and demographic changes influence the settlement structure and development of the Pearl River Delta(PRD)and lead to regionalization processes within the large agglomerations.The aim of the study was to understand the interrelation between the three aspects:economic change,demographic change and change of spatial structures.Based on population age and occupational data,spatial changes in demographic structure and economic activities from 2000 to 2010 were analyzed.It was found that the demographic and economic change reflected changing spatial patterns between the urban centers and the hinterland in the PRD.Two processes were apparent during the studied period in the hinterlands and the high-density areas of the PRD.On one hand,the hinterlands in the PRD attracted more manufacturing activities,while the inner high-density areas experienced a decrease in manufacturing,associated with an increase in young labor in regions where workplaces that only required limited education expanded.On the other hand,specialization in knowledge-intensive business services increased in the inner high-density areas,which also saw an increased share in the older population.This finding suggests that increasing knowledge-intensive work correlates with higher age structures due to the longer formal education required and also the benefits knowledge workers accrue through experience and gained knowledge over time.Therefore,based on a transformation process,we tentatively conclude that the populations in high-density areas in the PRD became more middle-aged and were represented by more knowledge workers.

Grasping Changes in Environment from the Economic Angle

It is of great significance to have a clear understanding of the international environment that China faces. But this is an uneasy job. Since September 11, the world situation has become so complicated that it is hard to grasp its essence even with painstaking efforts. To judge such an already complicated international environment from China’s perspective adds more difficulties, for different people usually have different views due to the different angles from which they see the situation and different methods they adopt. This, understandably, leads to hot debates within the Chinese academic circles. To provide a stage for exchange of views, at the invitation of the CIR Expert Forum, some well-known scholars and experts on international relations from Beijing gathered to hold a symposium on November 5, 2002, with the theme of "How to assess the international environment that China faces". The speeches at the symposium are published in two installments. Following are the second half.

Thirty Vears Road,Integrating a Megacity——Economic Changes inthe Yangtze River Delta Over the Past 30 Years

As one of the most dynamic economic zones in China, the Yangtze River Delta has further increased its economic output,becoming more open to foreign investment and international cooperation over the past 30 years.Its economic stability and coordination have been strengthened;and the process of regional integration continues to accelerate.

Empirical Analysis of Economic Growth in Sichuan Province

For a long time, the factors influencing a regional economic growth are mainly workforce, capital and scientific and technological progress. But with the further promotion of China＇s reform and opening-up and intensification of the further improvement degree, the main factors influencing a regional economic growth constantly change. This paper utilizes the relevant data of Sichuan to set up the econometric model and quantitatively studies the factors influencing economic growth of Sichuan. Through comparing the greatness that each factor influences the economic growth of Sichuan, the paper takes system changes as leading factor to influence the economic growth during 1984-2003 of Sichuan. At the same time, the upgrading of industrial structure will be a core of economic growth in the future, and the scientific and technological progress is the potential force of economic growth.

Characteristics of the Heat Island Effect in Shanghai and Its Possible Mechanism

The characteristics of the urban heat island effect and the climate change in Shanghai and its possible mechanism are analyzed based on monthly meteorological data from 1961 to 1997 at 16 stations in Shanghai and its adjacent areas. The results indicate that Shanghai City has the characteristics of a heat island of air temperature and maximum and minimum air temperature, a cold island of surface soil temperature, a weak rainy island of precipitation, and a turbid island of minimum visibility and aerosols, with centers at or near Longhua station (the urban station of Shanghai). Besides theses, the characteristics of a cloudy island and sunshine duration island are also obvious, but their centers are located in the southern part of the urban area and in the southern suburbs. A linear trend analysis suggests that all of the above urban effects intensified from 1961 to 1997. So far as the heat island effect is concerned, the heat island index (difference of annual temperature between Longhua and Songjiang stations) strengthens (weakens) as the economic development increases (decreases). The authors suggest that the heating increase caused by increasing energy consumption due to economic development is a main factor in controlling the climate change of Shanghai besides natural factors. On the other hand, increasing pollution aerosols contribute to the enhancement of the turbid island and cooling. On the whole, the heating effect caused by increasing energy consumption is stronger than the cooling effect caused by the turbid island and pollution aerosols.

Pauperizing the pastoral periphery: the marginalization of herding communities in the world's dry lands

Environmental degradation and other socio-economic problems are too often discerned in contemporary pastoral systems in the wake of global economic change. This paper identifies cases where pastoral people respond to external pressures and opportunities in positive ways and adapt to changes. We hope that by doing this a framework of pastoral adaptations can be developed. The first part of this paper focuses on impacts of global economic change, which are mostly negative in nature. Through an extensive literature search in geography, anthropology, range management, and development field, the second part introduces cases that we categorize as positive adaptations.