Abstract:

According to the meaning of region, which can be regarded as a unity of urbanity and rurality, taking unban as criteria of reference, we constructed the evaluative indices system of rurality index and used entropy method to estimate the rurality on the county scale in Jiangsu Province from 2001 to 2012. Taking rurality index scores as variables, we also used coefficient of variation to quantitatively analyze the process and pattern of rurality on the county scale in Jiangsu Province. The results are as follows. Firstly, since the beginning of the new century, with the improvement of the level of urbanization, rurality index in Jiangsu Province has shown the trend of reduction. The evolution of rurality on the county scale showed the special pattern. From 2001 to 2007, the differences narrowed gradually. Then from 2007 to 2012, the differences expanded little by little. Secondly, the development of rurality subsystem was out of balance. The subsystem had significant difference in the land use. However, the population development, economic development and infrastructure had relatively little differences. Thirdly, the spatial polarization along Taihu and Ningzhen region became increasingly obvious. Southern Jiangsu counties gave priority to downward convergence. Northern Jiangsu counties gave priority to upward convergence. The central Jiangsu counties were dominated by upward divergence. Lastly, the spatial and temporal variation of rurality on the county scale was the result of many factors, including location conditions, economic base, infrastructure, social policy, etc. With the development of society and economy, the rurality in Southern Jiangsu area maintained a relatively low level. However, there was an increasing trend in recent years. In order to reduce the rurality in Southern Jiangsu area, it is important to formulate relevant policies to promote the level and quality of urbanization to realize the integration development of urban and rural area. At the same time, the rurality in Northern Jiangsu area was at a high level in a long period. In recent years it has further weakened. The government needed to further increase policy support to gradually weaken the rurality and constantly raise the level of urbanization. The rise of rurality in the central Jiangsu area was obvious. Its development foundation was inferior to Southern Jiangsu area. Economic development and the level of urbanization need to be further improved. On the whole, in order to reduce the spatial differentiation in the counties of Jiangsu province and realize the coordinated development of the counties, it is the need to provide the policies such as favorable industry and tax policy for the development of Northern and central Jiangsu area. We should not only focus on center city building but also speed up the construction of the counties and towns in Northern Jiangsu area. It is necessary to invest the transportation, water, power and information infrastructure in the central Jiangsu area. With those measures have been finished can we narrow the disparities in county development and promote the strategic transformation of rural development.