From Sequential to Parallel Growth of Cities： Theory and Evidence from Canada

This paper examines city growth patterns and the corresponding city size distribution evolution over long periods of time using a simple New Economic Geography(NEG) model and urban population data from Canada. The main findings are twofold. First, there is a transition from sequential to parallel growth of cities over long periods of time: city growth shows a sequential mode in the stage of rapid urbanization, i.e., the cities with the best development conditions will take the lead in growth, after which the cities with higher ranks will become the fastest-growing cities; in the late stage of urbanization, city growth converges according to Gibrat′s law, and exhibits a parallel growth pattern. Second, city size distribution is found to have persistent structural characteristics: the city system is self-organized into multiple discrete size groups; city growth shows club convergence characteristics, and the cities with similar development conditions eventually converge to a similar size. The results will not only enhance our understanding of urbanization process, but will also provide a timely and clear policy reference for promoting the healthy urbanization of developing countries.

Regional Economic Convergence Mechanisms in the Yangtze River Delta

This paper decomposes the economic growth of the Yangtze River Delta into physical capital accumulation, improved efficiency, technological progress, and human capital input based on the non-parametric DEA method. It then examines the convergence effects of these four factors and the growth rate of the Delta using spatial statistic and econometric techniques and employing the absolute convergence equation. Our empirical findings show that the economic contribution of physical capital drives the real economic growth of the Delta＇s counties, cities and districts. Regional economic growth exhibits a significant spatial dependence which has had a marked effect on trends in economic growth. The neo- classical economic growth factor, physical capital accumulation, is the only factor involved in narrowing the gap among different parts of the Delta region and has driven the trend of economic convergence. Other new economic growth factors such as human capital, improved efficiency and technological progress have resulted in divergence in the Delta＇s economic growth and have had a profound impact on the economic disparities among different parts of the Delta region.

Sequential city growth： Theory and evidence from the US

City growth patterns are attracting more attention in urban geography studies. This paper examines how cities develop and grow in the upper tail of size distribution in a large-scale economy based on a theoretical model under new economic geography framework and the empirical evidence from the US. The results show that cities grow in a sequential pattern. Cities with the best economic conditions are the first to grow fastest until they reach a critical size, then their growth rates slow down and the smaller cities farther down in the urban hierarchy become the fastest-growing ones in sequence. This paper also reveals three related features of urban system. First, the city size distribution evolves from low-level balanced to primate and finally high-level balanced pattern in an inverted U-shaped path. Second, there exist persistent discontinuities, or gaps, between city size classes. Third, city size in the upper tail exhibits conditional convergence characteristics. This paper could not only contribute to enhancing the understanding of urbanization process and city size distribution dynamics, but also be widely used in making effective policies and scientific urban planning.

Research progress and prospect on development geography

In this paper,we review the research progress in development geography since the 20th century,focusing on its connotation and theory,fields,methods,and development trends.Specifically,we systematically review the research and applications of development geography,comprising fields such as the convergence of underdeveloped countries and regions,and the convergence of the process of improving the quality of life in developed countries and regions.Then,based on an analysis of research progress in development geography in foreign countries,we examine the development conditions and disciplinary advantages of development geography in China.Further,we highlight that future development geography research in China should focus on the latest international academic research and China’s national macro-strategic needs.Future research in development geography should be guided by the theory of sustainable development,the core of which is to improve sustainable livelihood capacity and regional green development levels in underdeveloped regions.This core includes the construction of industrial policy and development geography theory,as well as an interdisciplinary integrated research system.The focus must be placed on researching the spatial patterns,diffusion characteristics,and the convergence mechanism of regional development.Such a focus will facilitate exploration of the regulatory policies and scientific paths that serve regional economic construction and industrial development.