U.s. Central Cities Of Metropolitan Areas Industrial Restructuring Study (1920-1970),

The dominant industry of central cities in metropolitan areas began to transform from manufacturing to services since the 1920s. The transformation of industrial structure lasts for half a century. The essence of the transformation is that central cities adapted themselves to the post-industrial transformation of American society in economic dimension, and it's also the product of industrial activities conform to the rules of urban economic development rules and market rules in geographical distribution. By the influence of urban economic development rules, technological progresses, the change means of transport and the improvement of transportation network, the suburbanization of people and the investment of the Federal government, central cities' industrial structure transformation have different characteristics at specific time, specific industries and specific regions.The research was based on the data collected and compiled by U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the monographs and theses of the American and Chinese scholars as well. The thesis is composed of preface, text, conclusion and appendices. There includes four parts in the text:Part One summarizes the historical track of central cities' industrial structure transformation in the U. S. from 1920 to 1970. It is divided into three periods, which are the period of commerce dominant, the period of manufacturing dominant and the transformation period from manufacturing dominant to services dominant.Part Two generalizes the trend of central cities' industrial structure transformation, and analyzes the characteristics of the transformation by three dimensions.Part Three analyzes the causes of central cities' industrial structure transformation from five aspects: urban economic development rules, technological progresses, the change means of transport and the improvement of inter-urban and inter-state transportation network, the suburbanization of people and the investment of the Federal government.The conclusion part reveals the essence and the results of the transformation. The author holds the opinion that it would be a long way for American government to eliminate the negative influences to central cities caused by the transformation.