• International Area Studies Review
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.67-88
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• 2013

The purpose of this study empirically examines the pattern of regional disparities on the level of development in China's eastern, central, western and northeast regions for the period 1978-2012. To do this, it test Williamson's inverted-U hypothesis and Amos' augmented inverted-U hypothesis, focusing on polarization, polarization reversal, and spatial restructuring. Results of study are as follows: In the absolute economic disparity(AED) models of per capita income within a region, the Williamson's inverted-U hypothesis was supported in the eastern region, central region and inter-region model. The central region and the western region supports Williamson's hypothesis in the case of the relative economic disparity(RED). On the other hand, The inter-region model and the western region supports Amos' augmented inverted-U hypothesis in model of per capita income. In the urban-rural income economic disparity model, the inter-region model of AED and the central region of RED supports Amos' augmented inverted-U hypothesis. But the Williamson's inverted-U hypothesis was supported in the inter-region model and the western region in RED.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.226-253
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• 2009

The study analyzes the trend of regional economic development disparity in China, sets up research period from 1952 to 2008, and uses the after-modified regional GDP data by the first national economic census in 2004. The results as follow. Firstly, the Coefficient of variation(CV) with after-modified GDP data lower than the pre-modified data. Secondly, generally speaking, after-reform and open period's disparity lower than pre-reform and open period. In particular, the regional development disparity increased slowly after 1990, not rapidly. Third, the new cycle of the inverse-U type is appeared from 2002. Fourth, compared with Herfindhal-Hirschman index(HHI) and Theil Entrophy index(TEI), the lower level regions more affect to reduce the disparity in 1980s, and it also affect to reduce the disparity after 2000. Fifth, the convergence hypothesis test finds that the regional economic development disparity has been converged in 1978-2008. Sixth, the inverse-U type hypothesis not has statistical significance, from 1952 to 2008, but it has statistical significance from 1991 to 2008. This result same as the CV and the convergence test.