Evolution Process of Urban Spatial Pattern in Hubei Province Based on DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data

This paper intends to investigate the urban spatial patterns of Hubei Province and its evolution from three different perspectives: urban nodes, urban connections and urban clusters. The research adopts nighttime light imagery of cities in Hubei Province, the viewpoint of ′point-axis-area′ in the ′point-axis system′ theory, and employs light index model, gravity model and social network analysis. The findings are as follows: 1) In terms of urban nodes, the urbanization process of Hubei has been carried out mainly on the basis of external expansion rather than internal increasing. The polarization trend of urban connection network is strengthening. 2) As for urban connections, the estimation of urban connections using light index model is capable of containing various actual flow, and the connections are getting increasingly closer. 3) In regard to urban groups, seven urban groups of varying sizes have formed. On that basis, three stable and relatively independent urban groups as the centers, namely Wuchang, Yichang and Xiangyang emerge as well. But the structures of ′Wuhan Metropolitan Area′, ′Yichang-Jingzhou-Jingmen City Group′ and ′Xiangyang-Shiyen-Suizhou City Group′, which are defined by local development strategy in Hubei Province, are different from the above three urban groups.

Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Urbanization in China Using DMSP/OLS Nighttime Light Data from 1992–2013

Understanding the dynamics of urbanization is essential to the sustainable development of cities. Meanwhile the analysis of urban development can also provide scientifically and effective information for decision-making. With the long-term Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System(DMSP/OLS) nighttime light images, a pixel level assessment of urbanization of China from 1992 to 2013 was conducted in this study, and the spatio-temporal dynamics and future trends of urban development were fully detected. The results showed that the urbanization and urban dynamics of China experienced drastic fluctuations from 1992 to 2013, especially for those in the coastal and metropolitan areas. From a regional perspective, it was found that the urban dynamics and increasing trends in North Coast China, East Coast China and South Coast China were much more stable and significant than that in other regions. Moreover, with the sustainability estimating of nighttime light dynamics, the regional agglomeration trends of urban regions were also detected. The light intensity in nearly 50% of lighted pixels may continuously decrease in the future, indicating a severe situation of urbanization within these regions. In this study, The results revealed in this study can provided a new insight in long time urbanization detecting and is thus beneficial to the better understanding of trends and dynamics of urban development.

基于夜光遥感的山东省城市时空格局演化分析

基于1993年、1998年、2003年、2008年、2013年由美国军事气象卫星计划/线性扫描系统(defense meteorological satellite program/operational linescan system,DMSP/OLS)获取的山东省夜间灯光数据,结合山东省社会经济统计数据,采用夜间灯光强度、城市扩张速度和区域发展指数,从夜光辐射遥感数据的视角分析了山东省二十年的城市时空分布规律和扩展模式。研究结果表明了夜光数据与城市区域发展指数的强相关性,揭示了山东省城市时空格局的演化过程。

Fiscal pressure and local economic growth--An experiment from China income tax sharing system reform

In this paper,we construct an“as-if”DID model on the basis of the 2002“Income Tax Sharing System”reform and evaluate the changes in local fiscal pressure based on an exogenous shock that redefines the tax sharing rules between the central government and local governments.By using the DMSP/OLS satellite data at the city-level,we empirically examine the impact of fiscal pressure on the economic growth.We find that fiscal pressure significantly increase the satellite lighting.Furthermore,we obtain the findings as follows.Firstly,the incentive effects of fiscal pressure effects are less profound in cities that receive considerable intergovernmental transfers from high levels of governments.Secondly,the local governments are more likely to help the growth of real estate industry,which can reciprocally bring them considerable sales taxation.However,this homogenized growth pattern might be detrimental for economic diversification and finally enhance the risk of economical fluctuation.Finally,the fiscal pressure created by the reform restricts the extent to which jurisdictions compete with each other.However,the tax competition still exists because local governments are able to lower the tax rate once they gain enough revenues from land-sales.This paper provides a new explanation for China’s high-speed growth in addition to expenditure decentralization or administration decentralization.It also offers extra evidence for exploring the growth incentives of local government within the framework of China’s decentralization.