The United States is the most developed country in the world at present, but it was also a country with extremely unbalanced economic development. The imbalance of economic development in the United States is mainly manifested in the developed east and north and the backward west and south. The eastern and northern parts of the United States have developed economy, concentrated population, complete industrial system, huge commercial scale, active capital market, large stock of human capital, and developed services such as transportation, finance, insurance, post and telecommunications, which have become the essence of the American economy. However, the western and southern regions are economically backward, with vast territory and sparsely populated, with slow economic growth, mainly producing agricultural products and primary products, weak infrastructure, and lack of funds, technology and talents. In sharp contrast, this imbalance has seriously hindered the development of American economy and triggered a series of social problems. First of all, it weakens the overall economic development trend of the United States. Since 1930s, the economic growth rate of the United States once lagged behind that of Japan and Germany. The essential reason is that the economic situation in backward areas restricts the expansion of the overall effective demand of the American economy, reduces the return on investment, lacks investment and has limited market capacity. The second is to aggravate the instability of American society. The difference in economic development between the North and the South weakens and strengthens the competitiveness and benefit distribution conditions of the North-South consortium respectively, which leads to fierce competition between the two sides and directly impacts social stability, which invisibly intensifies the racial contradiction between whites and blacks and increases the opposition between the North and the South.
In order to change this situation, since the 1930s, successive American governments have attached great importance to the imbalance of regional economic development, strengthened the government's regulation and control over backward areas, and supported their economic development. The United States has passed several regional economic development bills, such as the Mosuo Beach and Tennessee Valley Development Act (President Roosevelt, 1933), the Regional Redevelopment Act (President Kennedy, 1960) and the Federal Receiving Area and Receiving Community Act (President Clinton, 1993). , cultivate the self-development ability of backward areas. Take the economic development of Tennessee Valley as an example. Tennessee River is the largest tributary of Ohio River and the east bank of Mississippi River, the largest river in the United States. Originating from the western slope of Appalachian Mountains, it flows into the Ohio River in Kentucky, with a total length of 1.050 km and a drainage area of 1.06 million square km. Mostly in Tennessee, which used to be one of the poorest and backward areas in the United States. 1933 has 3 million people, and the per capita annual income is only about 168, which is about 45% of the per capita income in the United States. Only 12% of the labor force is engaged in industry, and 62% is engaged in agriculture. The agricultural production level is very backward, which is 1/3 of the national average. /kloc-Since the late 6th century, excessive reclamation, wanton deforestation and predatory exploitation of mineral resources have caused serious soil erosion, flooding, rural desolation and population outflow. In the past, the United States tried many times to change its backwardness, but it never worked. 1933 after Roosevelt took office, he concentrated on developing the Tennessee Valley, passed the development bill, and established the Tennessee Valley Authority, which was directly led by the President and had the right to plan, develop, utilize and protect various resources in the Valley. After the establishment of the Administration, on the one hand, it devoted itself to the renovation and utilization of land resources. By establishing demonstration farms, educating and guiding farmers to plant trees, changing farming methods and improving soil, soil erosion can be prevented, agricultural output can be increased and farmers' living standards can be improved. On the other hand, we are committed to the comprehensive management and development of water resources. Building a series of water conservancy hubs and power stations on the Tennessee River and its tributaries not only effectively prevents floods, but also develops shipping, creating conditions for the development of industrial and mining enterprises in the basin, attracting a large number of industries to develop in the basin and forming the Tennessee River Industrial Corridor. Since then, tourism and other service industries have developed. After more than 50 years of comprehensive development and management, great changes have taken place in Tennessee Valley. Not only the basin economy has developed rapidly, but also the basin environment has been greatly improved. In the past, the hinterland with frequent disasters and poverty and backwardness has now become a developed area with fertile land, prosperous industry, prosperous economy, developed shipping and beautiful environment. It is not only an important production base of electronics, aluminum smelting, military industry and fertilizer in the United States, but also a famous tourist attraction, which has realized the coordinated development of population, economy, society and environment in the basin.
2. Brazil's successful experience in revitalizing the economy of backward areas.
Brazil is a country with a vast territory and extremely unbalanced economic development. The coexistence of developed coastal areas and backward inland areas is a remarkable feature of Brazil's macroeconomic regional pattern. In the 1940s, then President Vargas issued a call for "westward advancement" to the whole country. In order to implement the "integrated development strategy", 1960, Brazil moved its capital from Rio de Janeiro, a densely populated and economically developed coastal area, to Brasilia, a sparsely populated and economically backward central and western region. The westward movement of the capital has integrated the central and western regions into the national economy and improved the economic status of the region. At the same time, a series of plans have been made to strengthen investment in transportation, energy and communication departments in backward areas, and to build a highway network centered on Xindu and connecting major cities in various States, thus greatly promoting the formation of a unified national market. In addition, the interior of Brazil is vast and sparsely populated, and the population density per square kilometer in the northern and central and western regions is only 1-2. The government has planned to emigrate and build "agricultural towns" complexes on both sides of the highway, which has expanded the economic frontier and made these areas an organic part of the national economy.
In order to speed up the economic development in the northern region, the Brazilian government decided to develop the Amazon River basin, and established the Amazon Economic Development Planning and Management Bureau on 1953 to be responsible for the development planning and management of this region. The Amazon River basin not only has rich and diverse agricultural resources and unique forest resources, but also has the world's largest reserves of high-grade bauxite and iron ore, as well as tin, uranium, diamonds, gold mines and lignite. The water resources are also extremely rich, with reserves exceeding 50 million kilowatts. 1976, the Brazilian government chose Manaus, the capital of the Amazon, which is 0/700 km away from the coastline, as the new "growth center" (growth pole) to promote the development of the surrounding areas and even the entire Amazon river basin. The government issued a decree to establish Manaus Free Trade Zone, which mainly provided a series of preferential measures for domestic and foreign investors. With the development of economy, the area of free trade zone has gradually expanded to 22 1000 square kilometers, including the whole Amazon region, accounting for 26% of the national area, becoming the largest free trade zone in the world. After more than 20 years of development, Manaus Free Trade Zone has built more than 200 modern enterprises, and gradually formed electronic and electrical production centers, watch production centers, motorcycle and bicycle production centers, textile and clothing production centers, etc. Driven by the growth pole of Manaus, since 1974, there have been 17 growth poles of different scales in the Amazon region. Brazil's successful experience of accelerating the development and construction of backward areas by taking measures to cultivate the "growth level" of inland areas has attracted extensive attention and research from all countries in the world.
3. Successful experiences of Japan and Italy in revitalizing the economy of backward areas.
Japan is a country with a small territory, a large population and poor resources. Since the 1950s, only the development of heavy industry has been paid attention to for a long time, and the distribution of industry and population is excessively concentrated in the "three bays-sea area", while the vast rural and mountainous areas have a small population and a low level of economic income. To this end, the Japanese government mainly realizes the goal of revitalizing the economy of backward areas through land consolidation, infrastructure construction and industrial development, and the completion of the goal is mainly achieved through the state's intervention in all aspects of regional economic operation. First, carry out large-scale infrastructure and infrastructure construction in relatively backward areas outside Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, actively cultivate and develop economic growth poles in backward areas, and stimulate economic development in backward areas; Second, legislation should be enacted in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya to limit the excessive concentration of their industries, especially heavy chemical industries, and make them develop in the direction of knowledge-intensive and technology-intensive industries. The above strategy was implemented by the Japanese government through more than 20 comprehensive land development plans and backward area development plans formulated successively since the 1960s. There are 126 laws on the development and utilization of backward areas in Japan's "Six Laws on Land" from 65438 to 0979. On the basis of legislation first, develop backward areas in a planned way. At the same time, it also adopted a high investment policy. The specific approach is that the state and regions allocate special funds according to the business plan, mainly with free support, supplemented by low-interest long-term loans, and launch private development. The state has established specialized financial institutions to raise funds for backward areas, provide low-interest long-term loans, or guarantee development.
Through the policy of industrial development and comprehensive land development in backward areas, the Japanese government organically combines legislation with planning, which effectively promotes the economic revitalization of backward areas, narrows the differences in regional economic development, and eliminates the problems of "too dense" and "too sparse" economic layout to some extent.
Before World War II, there were obvious regional differences between northern and southern Italy. The south lags behind the north in population density, gross national product, per capita income and economic structure, as well as the proportion of culture, education and employment. In view of the strong political pressure and overall consideration of the economy, the Italian government, after completing the task of economic recovery, decided to carry out large-scale planned special intervention in the south, and established the Southern Fund Bureau on 1950 to be responsible for the planning and development of the backward areas in the south. The development process of the South is divided into four stages. The first stage of development focuses on agriculture and infrastructure; In the second stage, the focus of development is to promote the industrialization of this region through the construction of "industrial development zone" and "industrial development core" (growth pole); The third stage is to incorporate the southern economic development plan into the national economic development plan and gradually hand over the implementation of various projects to local governments; The fourth stage is to focus on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, improve technology and equipment, and commit to the localization and popularization of industrial enterprises. After more than 30 years' development and vertical comparison, the economic structure in the south has been improved, agriculture has been transformed and culture and education have been greatly developed.
Second, the enlightenment of foreign regional economic development experience
The southern and western regions of the United States, the central and western regions of Brazil, Hokkaido of Japan and the southern regions of Italy are all relatively backward regions. In order to promote the economic development of backward areas, these countries have adopted a series of different policies and measures and achieved remarkable results in the coordinated development of regional economy. Although there are differences between these countries and China in natural conditions, historical background, cultural conditions and social systems, their successful experience in promoting economic development in backward areas is worth learning and learning from.
1. Take coordinating regional development and narrowing regional disparities as a strategic task and make unremitting efforts.
From a global perspective, the economic situation of backward areas in any country will affect the development of the whole national economy and even bring social unrest. Therefore, it has become the basic goal and strategic task of the national regional policy to promote the economic development of backward areas and narrow the regional gap. After the 1920s, American government began to intervene and take measures to promote regional economic development. From the beginning, its regional policy aimed at promoting the economic development of backward areas and narrowing the spatial gap between income and living standards. Since the 1960s, Japan has also taken promoting the balanced development among regions, eliminating the problems of "too dense" and "too sparse" in economic layout, and narrowing the regional differences in economic activities as the main objectives of regional policies. Italy, Brazil and other countries have also taken promoting the development of backward areas, narrowing the regional gap and ensuring the coordinated and balanced development of the national economy as regional policy goals for a period of time.
2. Strengthen the central government's ability to intervene in regional economic development.
In view of the objectivity of unbalanced regional economic development and the reality of many economic and social problems caused by it, many countries in the world have adopted various government intervention policies for the economic development of their backward areas. For example, making regional development plans and economic development plans for backward areas; Set up a special regional coordinated development agency to be responsible for the planning and development of backward areas; Vigorously invest in the construction and improvement of infrastructure in backward areas; Using industrial policy to adjust industrial structure and spatial layout; Immigrants develop backward areas; Formulate restrictive measures in developed areas and preferential measures in backward areas.
It is not enough to solve the problem of economic development in backward areas only by relying on the local government's own strength. We must rely on the strong support of the central government and central leaders to promote it. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the development of backward areas, many countries have set up special institutions to take charge of the development of backward areas. For example, 1933, the United States established the Tennessee Valley Authority, which was directly led by President Roosevelt. In order to develop the Amazon river basin, Brazil established the Amazon Economic Development Planning Bureau on 1953.
3. Strengthen planning and legislation to ensure the economic development of backward areas according to law.
Legal norms are rules formulated or recognized by the state and enforced by the state, which is also the guarantee for the smooth implementation of national policies. In the experience of developing backward areas all over the world, the most important thing is to make plans to legalize regional development policies. For example, since the 1960s, the American government has promulgated a series of laws and regulations, such as the Regional Redevelopment Act, the Equal Economic Opportunity Act and the Appalachian Regional Development Act, while Germany has the Federal Spatial Distribution Act and the Border Area Development Act, while Britain has the Special Area Act and the Industrial Distribution Act. In the form of legal provisions, determine the choice of the area to be developed, the content and procedures of development, the way and focus of funding, and the specific content of preferential measures. So as to legalize the development policies in backward areas, and set up corresponding regional economic management institutions to implement them according to law. This is the fundamental guarantee for the smooth and effective economic development in backward areas, which is worth learning from.
4. Focus on the key points and implement the growth pole strategy.
Because there are many unfavorable factors and conditions in the economic development of backward areas, it is very difficult to transform and invest heavily. Therefore, when supporting the economic development of backward areas, we cannot go hand in hand. The correct way is to grasp the key points and implement the growth pole development strategy. When developing the backward west and south, the American government chose some small cities with relatively convenient traffic conditions and relatively good economic foundation as economic growth centers, and established a number of emerging industrial bases, which promoted the economic development of the surrounding areas. The Brazilian government chose Amazonian Manaus as the new "growth center" to promote the development of the surrounding areas and even the entire Amazon River basin. This makes it possible to give full play to limited funds, give preferential treatment to funds and projects, focus on supporting some centers, improve infrastructure and investment environment, and promote the all-round economic and social development of the surrounding hinterland through the development of growth centers.
5. Adopt flexible and diverse ways to help and cultivate the self-development ability of backward areas.
Due to the low level of economic development and low labor productivity, the ability of self-accumulation and self-development in backward areas is often weak. Without a large amount of capital investment and state support, it is quite difficult to accelerate development. Therefore, the central government must increase the state's capital investment and support for the development and construction of backward areas through various forms of assistance such as public investment, transfer payments, investment subsidies, financial discount loans, tax incentives and government procurement. 40% of the total investment of the Italian central government is invested in the south, and state-owned enterprises must invest 40% of industrial investment and 60% of newly-built industrial enterprises in the south, and then increase the proportion of enterprises investing in the south to 60% and 80%. 195 1 When Japan developed Hokkaido, the public investment was only 7 billion yen. By 1995, the budget had reached 945 billion yen. 1980 public investment accounts for 9% of local fiscal expenditure, and Hokkaido accounts for 17.65438+. Public investment also includes the establishment of regional development funds to help backward areas, such as the "Southern Development Fund" in Italy and the "Amazon Investment Fund" in Brazil.
All countries regard the establishment of a standardized financial transfer payment system as an important means to implement regional policies and increase government transfer payment subsidies to backward areas. According to statistics, Australia, Japan, India, South Korea, Canada and other countries account for more than 20% of the central fiscal revenue, while Germany, the United States, Britain, Indonesia and other countries account for 10%-20%. Giving tax incentives to backward areas is a common stimulus tool in market economy countries. In order to encourage capital to flow to backward areas, the Bill of Federal Aid to Regions and Communities promulgated by the Clinton administration in 1993 stipulated that the government would allocate 2.5 billion dollars for tax incentives without compensation. 1967, Brazil established the Manaus Free Trade Zone in the northern Amazon region in order to encourage the society to invest in developing backward areas. Private enterprises in the area are exempt from income tax 10 year, imported goods that are expanded and reproduced are exempt from import tax, and consumer goods and materials purchased from abroad and other regions are exempt from commodity circulation tax.
The central government's investment in backward areas is mainly concentrated in infrastructure such as transportation, energy, communication and education. On the one hand, this is to avoid the destruction of market mechanism by government investment in manufacturing enterprises, on the other hand, it is also because these departments have the greatest external economic effects. For a region, short-term development can be achieved by external "blood transfusion", but to achieve long-term stable and sustainable development, it is necessary to change "blood transfusion" into "hematopoiesis", improve the investment environment, improve infrastructure and enhance the self-development ability of backward areas. In the process of developing backward areas abroad, without exception, accelerating and strengthening infrastructure construction is regarded as the breakthrough of regional economic development.
6. Encourage immigrants and guide the rational flow of human resources.
Promoting the rational flow of human resources through immigration is an important means and measure taken by European and American countries and developing countries to narrow regional differences. This flow includes two ways: one is the positive flow and migration of population from backward areas to developed areas. For example, after World War II, France's per capita income level rose relatively, and the relative gap with developed areas was narrowed by emigrating to backward areas and reducing population. The other is the reverse flow and migration of population from developed areas to backward areas. For example, in the history of American western development, immigrants played an important role. At present, Indonesia is also solving the regional gap through this kind of reverse immigration, mainly from the economically developed Java island to the outer islands. In the past 20 years, the total number of immigrants has reached more than 4 million, and the government's long-term goal is to immigrate 20 million people.