By Sun Zhiyan, Department of Development Strategy and Regional Economy, DRC

Research Report No.136 2016 (Total 5019) 2016-09-30

Abstract: The general development trend of China’s population spatial distribution between 2010 and 2015 indicates that migration movement has become more multi-dimensional, with more people moving to central and western regions with relatively fast economic development. As people intend to migrate to big cities, urban population density in many provinces has become tangible. The increase of urban residents in megacities is relatively significant, and the trend that people are moving from small and medium-sized cities to big cities is enhanced. Based on the above-mentioned facts, this paper puts forward the following policy options. Population management system reform based on place of residence should be pushed forward in an all-round manner, and a favorable policy environment should be created for floating population so as to enhance the consistency between the spatial distribution of population and economic activities; the establishment of a fiscal balance mechanism and a public service sharing mechanism within city clusters should be accelerated, and the fiscal capacity of places to provide public services for inflow and outflow population should be effectively balanced; regional policies for controlling city size should be played down, and the accumulative effect of big cities should be given full play; the reform of regional planning system should be promoted in line with the spatial changes of population structure.

Key words: population, spatial distribution, regional polices