| China has long been practicing the urban-rural segregation policies, such as residence permit system, different land utilization systems for urban and rural areas, and unequal urban and rural social security systems, resulting in unbalanced economic development levels in urban and rural areas, and widening the gap between the living standards of urban and rural people. This is a critical issue to be addressed urgently. To this end, China put forward the policies of "Urbanization" and "New Rural Construction" to achieve the harmonious urban and rural economic development and redress the malpractices of urbanization. Against this background, Wenzhou, a city with strong industrial growth momentum, is about to reform its economic zoning practice (division of economic regions). This effort derived from the response of Wenzhou Government to the call of its people for setting up township level cities, addressing its weaknesses in service and management. In June2009, Wenzhou put forward a proposal for building a number of Township Level Cities, small modern cities with complete city functions, developed economy, beautiful environment and distinctive characteristics.A township city is actually a city directly under the county, which has an equal status with rural and township regions. Similar administrative division existed in China100years ago, such as Jingde Town of Jiangxi Province, Foshan Town of Guangdong Province. Taiwan has practiced the township level city system for long and achieved good results. The economic zoning of Wenzhou township-level cities,different from the administrative divisions of Taiwan county cities.is to promote the reform of economic systems under the premise of following scientific development with the aim to realize the political, economic, social, and cultural harmonious development in urban and rural regions.Its basic purpose is to bypass the bottleneck of administrative division, allow township level cities to manage and construct the towns of their own directly by means of the county government decentralization, and promote the balanced urban-rural development. In essence,it is the effective way to promote rural urbanization.The process of this economic mode is:generally regard township-level cities as economic development centers, continually construct them and form new economic growth poles; then spread to rural hinterland and drive economic development in the whole rural region; eventually change the economic development structure of urban and rural areas.The Wenzhou prefecture expects that the construction of a township level city can step up the urbanization of rural areas, the transformation of non-agricultural structure in the county, which is strategically significant to our effort to shrink the urban-rural gap, shift the economic structure of China and build an allround welfare society.Given this situation, it is equally significant to study the reform of township level cities for the following reasons. First, the study of the reform will show us the trend of urbanization in China, which means to urbanize and localize the surplus rural labor, and cover public service and social management in the rural areas. If we are dedicated to treat rural residents with the same basic public services as those for urban residents, it is imperative to change the dual urban-rural structure. Second, the study of the reform helps to correct the malpractices in the process of urbanization because the urbanization of township level cities is closely related to the rural economy, which costs lower but brings about reasonable urban-rural relationship. Third, the study of the reform is conducive to reforming the existing system that constrains the development of rural and township economy in many aspects. The setup of township level cities can redress the drawbacks of the system. Last but not least, the study of the reform is conducive to breaking through the bottleneck of system by way of "township-type" urbanization. Moreover, foreigners can learn about our "township city" urbanization practice from the study of "township level city" reform of Wenzhou, which will enrich the knowledge base of the world in this aspect.The essay consists of eight chapters. The Introduction,while putting forward the proposition, mainly explains the significance, research methods, main contents and frame structure of this research subject, and then points out the major innovation and limitations of its own.Chapter1is an overview of the study, which first reviews the domestic and foreign experience in the township construction, mainly the study of economic zoning and economic development mode. The purpose is to show that economic growth and development mode are closely related to the economic zoning, especially in China. The study provides useful ideas to guide Wenzhou in its effort to set "township level cities" to adjust the industry structure, change the economic growth pattern and increase the growth momentum.Chapter2talks about the theories, covering the economic development theories that lead to different economic development modes, the theory of division of economic regions, and the theory of effect and mode theory relating to rural/township economic development. They constitute the basic theories for the formation and change of rural and township development modes of China, and are the theoretical support for the setup of township level cities in Wenzhou.Chapter3outlines the history and development of the economic zoning in China. As the rural areas are on the road to urbanization, the economic zoning is out of date because1) some economic zones are mingled with administrative zones,2) there are institutional barriers between the province, cities, counties and townships,3) there is not clear definition of the responsibilities, rights and interests,4) there are chaos and problems inside the township government agencies. As a result, the industrialization and urbanization are not in harmony with the urban-rural realities. To change this situation, it is necessary to initiate a new reform at the township level to correct any inconsistencies left over from the previous incomplete reform.Chapter4is about the evolution of the township level cities in China and their reform practices. The establishment of township level cities is not new in China. Taiwan has a long history of maintaining cities under the county (township level cities), which facilitated the economic development of the local township regions, and is an experience to learn for Wenzhou in its township reform.Chapter5is about the experience of township construction in developed counties, mainly the United States, Japan, Germany and France, which we can draw upon in the township construction of our own.Chapter6touches upon the notion that township level city is a proper combination of economic zoning and development mode in China. Rational division of township economic region can promote the local economic development and foster a new growth model. Given the current characteristics of China in terms of economy (industry structure, employment structure, output, investment, price, foreign trade, etc), social development (population, education, and culture) and living standards of the people, it is necessary for China to set up township level cities that represent the trend of urbanization.Chapter7studies the efficiency of establishing township level cities. The efficiency indicators and economic growth model are used in case studies to materially demonstrate that the setup of township level cities in Wenzhou propelled its growth, and that the growth poles appeared will drive the economic development of the whole region of a township level city.Chapter8is about conclusions and outlook. The first conclusion is that proper economic zoning promotes economic growth and forms new economic growth mode, the second is that township level city is a proper combination of the economic zoning and the development mode in China, and the third is that the new economic growth mode formed by establishment of township level cities can sure push and pull the economic social development in the relevant rural areas. At the same time, we hope that the township level cities can promote the development of private sector economy, decode the problems of urban management, accelerate the transformation of non-agricultural structure in the county region and facilitate our economic transformation.The innovations of this dissertation are as follows:1) a fresh subject. After searching, I found that there was still not a subject matter touching upon the economic development of China from the perspective of cities at township level, so the subject is of significance to the next step of our township construction.2) Given the current status of the urbanization in China."Township Level City" in this essay is not taken as an administrative zone, but an economic zone. This essay elaborates on the concept of "Township Level City" systematically against the efficiency indicators and relevant economic growth model through the combination of demonstration research with standard research, helping you to understand the essence of setting "cities at the township level".3) With an in-depth understanding of the experience of township construction in foreign countries and a thorough analysis of Wenzhou’s urbanization practice of setting up cities at the township level drew upon, I came to a conclusion that cities at the township level are a proper combination of rural economic zoning reform with economic development mode, which accord with the social and economic development law and are a necessary choice and development trend of urbanization of China. These conclusions will be useful for future urbanization, coordinated development of urban-rural economy, and reform of the existing system of China. |
