Spatial Difference Analysis of the Economic Density of Construction Land at County Level in China

The purpose of the study is to analyze the spatial difference of economic efficiency of land use in each county or district at county level in 2004 by using economic density data of regional and county-level land lots used for construction combined with GIS technology.Furthermore,the changes in the economic densities of urban and rural construction land between 1996 and 2004 were investigated.Methods employed include comprehensive analysis,spatial analysis and statistical analysis.Results reveal that the overall level of economic density of urban and rural construction land decreased from eastern China to western China in 2004.However,there were exceptions.The difference among regions was significant,and high density units concentrated in three metropolitan areas;core-marginal effect and point-axis characteristics were present.The overall situation of economic density had not changed much between 1996 and 2004.However,the increase of economic density in coastal area in eastern China slowed down and that in the inland areas,especially in the western part of these areas was significant.Among the 6 types of units categorized by the level of economic development and speed of economic density increase,those whose economy was less developed and whose speed of economic density increase was faster accounted for the largest part of total units,possessed the largest area and there were some units whose economic density had negative increase.Therefore,more attention should be paid to such units.