市的兴起与近代中国区域经济的不平衡发展

民国时期市的兴起,改变了秦统一以来中国只有面状的地域型政区的行政区划模式,此后这种点状的城市型日益重要。本文回顾了民国时期市的出现和扩展的过程,分析了其间产生的151个市的空间分布状况,指出市最早产生在沿海通商口岸,口岸城市近代经济的迅速发展和人口的增加是市产生和发展的主要动力,受此驱动的各区域经济的不平衡发展导致中国的城市主要分布在沿海地区。由于市能否设立主要依据城市的人口和税收数量,传统的各种等级的行政中心如果能够较早被设立为市,大多数情况是由于它们经济有所发展并承担起区域经济中心的结果,否则设市要慢一些甚至不能设市。

The Emergence of City and the Unbalanced Development of Regional Economy in Early Modern China

The emergence of city during the period of the Republic of China changed the administrative model based on the area since the Qin Dynasty. This paper discusses the emergence and development of city in this period and the locations of 151 cities and points out that cities first emerged in the coastal port regions due to their quick economic development and fast population growth. The establishment of city relied on its population and tax income. The traditional administrative centers could develop into cities if they had quick economic development and were the local economic center.