The Economic Development and Regional Difference of the Yangtze River Delta

The aim of this paper is to make a quantitative analysis of the economic difference among cities within the Yangtze River Delta and its causes behind it. It shows that in the 90's the overall status of the Yangtze River Delta heightened as against the other areas of China, while its regional difference diminished. Moreover, the layer structure of the Yangtze River Delta economic sphere in the 90's is becoming clear. For the clarification of the future development scheme of the Yangtze River Delta, this paper analyzed the economic development in Japan after the war as a frame of reference. Through this comparative analysis between the Yangtze River Delta urban areas and the 47 prefectures of Japan, their similarities and differences are clarified and some suggestions are made for the policies.