The Functional Mechanism Of Geographic Factors To Economic Catch-up In Late-developing Region

This paper, supported by the theories of man-land relationship, new economic growth and new economic geography, attempts to establish theoretical framework on the mechanism of geographic factors which impact on catch-up in late-developing region under the current background of non-balanced economic development. Additionally, based on the measurement for the three-dimensional geographical factors, we conducted empirical research focusing on patterns of geographic factors in catch-up process of economic diversity, convergence and industry agglomeration, which provides a theoretical basis for late-developing region to break the traditional economic catch-up patterns, and form a self-development capacity-driven mechanism for economic catch-up.Firstly, the paper presents a three-dimensional geographic factors interaction system of the late-developing region under catch-up strategy, on the basis of the literature review of the economic catch-up theory, geographic factors and economic relations. Natural geographical environment, as the first geographic factor, contains slope, relief of topography, abundance of water resource, and land potential capacity. Moreover, traffic, location and open-policy take as the second geographic factor while human capital and R&D level as the third geographic factor. So roles of the three-dimensional geographic factors were quantitatively assessed and their spatial and temporal variations were analyzed through modeling.Secondly, due to the description of the variation geographical patterns in the catch-up speed, scale, efficiency, and industrial structure, as well as to the spatial effect measurement of the catch-up behavior, the author found economic catch-up behavior existed uneven geographical distribution and significant spatial dependence, and shows certain characteristics of path dependence.Thirdly, based on different perspectives of economic growth, convergence and industry agglomeration, this paper takes further discussion to the mechanism geographical factors of economic catch-up, and then takes the conclusion that coupling action of the three-dimensional geographical factors leads to the economic catch-up path in the late-developing regions. Natural and geographical factors, as the initial incentive for regional economic catch-up, plays the basic guidance roles in the regional economic catch-up; the second dimension of the traffic, location and opening-up policy, take the role in the change of regional economic catch-up by the geographical environment; the third dimension of human capital and R&D level is the inherent power of economic catch-up, and the nature incentives to promote economic catch-up. In the progress of the economic catch-up from the three-dimensional geographical factors, we should have optimum control on the major geographical elements due to the different affects on each geographical element from different research perspectives and scales.Finally, according to the above findings, the optimal control countermeasure of geographical factors in the economic catch-up is put forward briefly. Such as slow down the resistance of topography and excavate the potential of water and land resource according to the local conditions; improve transport infrastructure, take regional advantages, expand the degrees of openness; increase education investment and set up R&D system that combining technical introduction and innovative development. In addition, this paper summarized the main contents and conclusions, furthermore, it also proposed the shortages and suggestions for future study.