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

Research Report, No.219, 2020 (Total 5963) 2020-9-9

Abstract: According to research findings based on comparisons of changes in the regional development pattern of 29 countries since 2000, most countries have experienced the same regional development changes including widening inter-regional gap and the slowdown of cross-regional population flow. The current spatial layout of population of these countries has also changed compared with that during the second technological revolution. China’s regional development will enter a stage of transformation focusing on new technologies, digital infrastructure and new business modes. The hidden gap caused by more uneven distribution of the wealth newly generated by the development of digital economy will become a prominent problem in future regional development. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the Chinese government needs to take the basic trend of slower cross-regional population flow into consideration in the formulation of regional policies, accelerate the layout and development of more strategic growth areas in the central and western regions, focus on narrowing digital gap as a priority issue to maintain inter-regional gap within an appropriate range in the initial development period of digital economy and improve equilibrium and accessibility of public services between different regions.

Keywords: the 14th Five-Year Plan, gap between regions, population flow, equilibrium of public services