Research On The Relationship Between Urban Development And Decentralization At Different Periods In Metropolitan Areas

There has been a decentralization trend in metropolitan areas in China when urban development has reached a certain stage.In China,cities including Beijing,Shanghai and Guangzhou have shown so-called suburbanization within their administrative divisions.A large number of studies show that suburbanization is an inevitable stage of the whole process of urban development.This article investigates the relationship between the decentralization characterized by counter-urbanization and the urbanization with the passage of time.In other words,the question is when the phenomenon of decentralization will come out in the process of urbanization.An academic discussion of this issue from existing phenomena or practices in China's metropolitan areas is conducive to revealing whether China's urban development has entered(or has begun to enter)a new stage of development.It is helpful to provide empirical references when making an urban development strategy.The decentralization is very complicated in real life,which at least contains suburbanization and counter-urbanization.Taking Beijing as an example,there has no consent idea about the exact definitions of suburbanization,counter-urbanization and suburbanization.In light of this issue,this paper proposes the "dynamic center-periphery" theory.Based on the overall urban planning in different periods,we clarify the change of the boundary between the"center" and "periphery" within Beijing.Specifically,based on the boundary of urban planning in 2004,the central urban areas were Dongcheng,Xicheng,Chongwen,and Xuanwu,and the rest were suburbs(including suburbs and outskirts)before 2004;after 2004,the central urban areas were Dongcheng,Xicheng,Chaoyang,Haidian,Fengtai,and Shijingshan,the rest were peripheral areas.Before 2004,the expansion from the central urban area to the outside was called suburbanization(Type ? of decentralization);after 2004,the expansion from the larger central urban area to the outside was called counter-urbanization(Type ? of decentralization).After defining the two types of decentralization,we can not only study the phase of decentralization in Beijing but also practically apply the two terms,urbanization and counterurbanization,into describe the spatial changes of one region.Based on the above aims and methods,with the foundation of urban economics,spatial economics,and economic geography,this article scientifically proposes the "dynamic centerperiphery" theory.Then this article analyzes the characteristics of urban development and decentralization in China's metropolitan areas,and the turning point of urban development,and their influencing factors.In addition,this article compares the differences of decentralization between China and European countries,the United States and Japan.Due to the different divisions of the central area,this paper explores the phased course of Beijing's decentralization and the spatial pattern of urban development in two different stages.Besides,this paper empirically tests the relationship between Beijing's urban development and decentralization in different periods and different stages.This paper provides four primary conclusions.First,the urban development in Beijing has a periodical characteristic.After the reform and opening up,Beijing's urban development has experienced a period of rapid growth and a period of rapid development,and then entered a stable period.At the same time,the development of decentralization went through a relatively dispersed phase and an absolute dispersed phase.Based on the night light data,this paper finds that from 1992 to 2003,Beijing' s urban development shows a trend of suburbanization featured with the central areas,Dongcheng and Xicheng,being evacuated to the outskirts.From 2004 to 2018,the development of Beijing's urban areas shows a trend of counter-urbanization,that is,shifting from the central areas,including Xicheng,Chaoyang,Haidian,Fengtai and Shijingshan,to the outer suburbs.Combining the methods of standard deviation ellipse and the gravity center migration,this paper concludes that the urban development in Beijing shows an expanding trend.From the perspective of changes in the spatial rotation angle,due to differences in the geographical location of townships and streets,and differences in the commuting cost,the spatial movement path of the centers in Beijing has shifted to the northeast.Second,there is a trend of decentralization in large urban areas in China.From the characteristics of urban development,prosperity in the central area coexists with suburban development.The speed of urban development is rapid,along with short cycles and obvious fluctuations.And the trend of urban decentralization is more significant.Judging from the population size and economic development level of metropolitan areas,the turning points in the process of urban development are different in different metropolitan areas.The characteristics of decentralization in metropolitan areas show that commuting distances are extended,and the ratio of occupation to living in the central area is higher.The population growth rate in the suburbs is greater than that in the central area.And the migrant population is mainly concentrated in the suburbs.Third,in terms of the decentralization between China and foreign countries,there is a significant difference.The decentralization in foreign countries occurred earlier than that in China.The former was concentrated in the middle and late 19th century while the latter appeared in the 1990s.About the formation of institution,most of the foreign countries implemented a market economy system.While China has experienced a transition from a planned economy to a market economy system.From the perspective of urban development,China attaches importance to the comprehensive and coordinated development among large,medium and small cities.However,foreign countries focus on the development of metropolitan areas.From the perspective of the dynamic mechanisms,the improvement of traffic conditions and the emergence of urban diseases caused the decentralization in most of foreign countries.In China,it is the government that has caused the outward expansion of cities,thus leading to the decentralization.Moreover,the decentralization in foreign countries usually causes the decline of the central area,but the decentralization and the prosperity of central areas coexist in China.From the perspective of suburban functions,the development of suburbs in foreign countries shifts from a single function to a comprehensive function.But the development of infrastructure in China's suburbs is lagging and slow.Fourth,there is a significant long-term and short-term equilibrium relationship between the urban development and the decentralization in 1992-2003.The urban development has a significant positive effect on the decentralization through the transformation of industrial structure,population outflow and housing relocation.From 2004 to 2018,Beijing's urban space was evacuated from the center to the outer suburbs.There is a significant long-term and shortterm equilibrium relationship between the urban development and the decentralization in this period.The urban development aggravates the outflow of commerce,industrial relocation,and employment,thus leading to the decentralization.In addition,the decentralization appears first in metropolitan areas.According to the earliest occurrence of decentralization in Beijing,we can conclude that when China's statistical population urbanization rate approached 30%in the 1990s,the phenomenon of suburbanization(Type ? of decentralization)occurred.When the population urbanization rate exceeds 40%,the phenomenon of counter-urbanization(Type ?of decentralization)appeared.Therefore,in the process of new-type urbanization,the government should pay attention to the phenomenon of decentralization,and then take advantage of the positive effect of counter-urbanization.