Self‐help in housing and chengzhongcun in China's urbanization

This article focuses on the housing issues of rural migrants arising from urbanization, with particular reference to chengzhongcun, a topic with considerable impact on policymaking. An attempt is made to understand the underlying rationale of self‐help in housing and the important role of chengzhongcun in sheltering rural migrants in the context of China's rural‐urban dichotomy. As demonstrated in this study, chengzhongcun accommodate, with little in the way of government resources and assistance, millions of rural migrants because of their social accessibility and affordability. While not denying their social problems, we argue that chengzhongcun in fact act as an innovative and positive agent to promote urbanization in present day China by housing massive numbers of rural migrants and assimilating them into cities. Current government policies towards chengzhongcun have generated a wide range of interest conflicts and confrontations. The consequences of such conflicts show that the government policies were problematic and unworkable, as they violated basic market principles as well as citizen rights. Policy strategy towards the redevelopment of chengzhongcun must acknowledge their credibility in the Chinese road to urbanization and requires more thoughtful and prudent consideration of migrants' demands for affordable housing.     

Regional economic performance in China1

This paper investigates convergence patterns among China's provinces using GDP data for the period 1952–97. We analyze convergence behaviour on the basis of Markov chains proposed by Quah (1993 ) and the generalized entropy decomposition proposed by Shorrocks (1980, 1984 ). Both sets of results show similar evidence of convergence within the pre‐defined geo‐economic sub‐regions, but no evidence is found of convergence between the sub‐regions. This finding has important policy implications for regional economic development in China. JEL classification: C33, E20, O47.     

区港合一与厦门港城经济发展

区港合一指的是保税区、港口码头作业区实行一体化运作,在货物监管上采取一线放开、二线管住、区内宽松的自由贸易模式。按照构想,在厦门实行区、港合一,主要是充分利用象屿保税区坐落在东渡港区、区内无居民而便于实行隔离监管的优势,将象屿保税区与东渡港区进行组合,形成一体     

新时期广东省山区人口控制探析

20世纪90年代以来，广东省的山区人口增长速度虽然得到了控制，但与珠江三角洲相比还存在一定差距，地区之间发展也不平衡，生育水平仍不稳定，有效的人口控制机制尚末真正形成。因此，必须建立保障体系 和切合实际人口控制工作新机制，把人口控制工作寓于服务之中；加强计划生育队伍建设，提高队伍整体素质和工作效率。     

当前邮政储蓄机构违规经营原因与治理

近几年来,我国邮政储蓄业务迅速发展,已成为我国金融业中的一支不可忽视力量.邮政储蓄业务在高速发展的同时,也存在高息揽储、汇转储、公款私存、乱拉存款、乱设机构等违规行为,必须改革邮政储蓄机构管理体制、取消利率优惠政策、加强内部管理和强化金融监管,保证邮政储蓄机构健康发展,维护金融秩序稳定.     

杠杆融资项目净现值计算方法的比较与分析

负债融资具有杠杆效应,有节税收益。计算杠杆融资项目的净现值,如仍按全权益融资项目的方法计算,其结果会有所不同,直接影响投资决策的正确性。本文介绍三种西方常用的杠杆融资项目的净现值计算方法,并对其适用条件进行比较和分析。     

突出区域特色建设海洋经济强区

做好海的大文章,大力发展海洋经济,已成为天津新发展的重大战略.汉沽作为天津滨海新区和天津口岸的重要组成部分,经过深入调研,对建设海洋经济强区已初步形成思路.汉沽因海而成区,近年伴随着海洋产业和城市发展,具备了实现海洋经济快速发展的基础条件.     

大贤山织女洞

大贤山织女洞位于沂源县燕崖乡大贤山山腰,洞悬在半山悬崖上,后人在洞口补加了砖石房顶和券门,将天然洞口改装成了一座庙宇的样子.于是,织女洞遂成为当地重要的民间信仰崇拜场所,吸引了众多善男信女们前来烧香许愿,乞求安康.因为有了织女洞,所以,和牛郎织女故事相关联的一些环境地名也围绕着大贤山不断丰富起来:山脚下的河流被称为阻隔牛郎织女的银河,隔河相望的村落被认定为牛郎的家乡,织女洞南侧的泉水被命名为"天孙泉"等等.大贤山一时成为牛郎织女故事的核心区.沂源也因此而成为中国北方牛郎织女传说的中心.     

透视入世条款怎样避免农业弱势累积

入世后,我国产业界将面临前所未有的机遇和挑战,相对WTO其它成员中的综合实力和竞争优势来说,我国农业将处于比较弱势地位,本文通过分析中国为加入WTO所签订的一系列与农业有关的条款,指出我国农业所面对的复杂形势,详细说明了能否趋利避害,关键在于怎样立足现实,走出一条既适合中国国情又符合WTO规则的发展之路,据此作者提出了多渠道避免农业弱势累积的方案。