The Way of Xiaoma Reform: Xiaogan Volume

Author: Li Youqing, Shui Yankai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: China's National Conditions Series - A Follow-up Survey on the Economic and Social Development of 100 Cities and Counties#8226;Xiaogan (Municipal District) Volume: "Exploring the Reform and Development Path of 'Xiaoma'," is a sub-project of the 2003 National Social Science Fund Key Project "China's 100 Cities and Counties Economic and Social Development Follow-up Survey" (Approval No.: 03ASH005). It is the result of a follow-up survey and research on the "China's National Conditions Series - A Survey on the Economic and Social Development of 100 Cities and Counties#8226;Xiaogan Volume" published in 1992. The "China's National Conditions Series - A Survey on the Economic and Social Development of 100 Cities and Counties#8226;Xiaogan Volume" published in 1992 reflects the situation of the former county-level Xiaogan City in Hubei Province. The former county-level Xiaogan City had a land area of 2,214 square kilometers and a total population of 1,307,767 in 1990. In April 1993, approved by the State Council, the Xiaogan Prefecture and the county-level Xiaogan City were abolished, and the prefecture-level Xiaogan City was established. The former county-level Xiaogan City was divided into Xiaonan District and Xiaochang County. The prefecture-level Xiaogan City administers 7 county-level districts and cities, namely Xiaonan District, Xiaochang County, Dawu County, Yunmeng County, Anlu City, Yingcheng City, and Hanchuan City, with a total land area of 8,910 square kilometers and a total population of 5.06 million in 2003. "The Path of 'Xiaoma' Reform" reflects not the entire situation of Xiaogan City but the economic and social development of the municipal district (i.e., the municipal government and Xiaonan District, with a land area of 1,020 square kilometers and a total population of 905,600 in 2003). "The Path of 'Xiaoma' Reform" includes four parts: Part Research Report: "Taking the Path of Merging Urban and Rural Areas, Leveraging Strengths, Addressing Weaknesses, and Developing with Distinctive Features." It includes 3 parts: , a thorough analysis of the current development status. Using authoritative data, it explains Xiaogan's ranking in the country and Hubei's prefecture-level cities, and uses facts to illustrate the main disadvantages and relative advantages of the Xiaogan municipal district. Second, a clear understanding of the reform direction. Using facts and data, it explains the characteristics of China's administrative divisions, the "city-governing-county" system, the development history and main drawbacks of prefecture-level cities, as well as the goals and steps of prefecture-level city reform. Third, bold exploration of the reform path. Taking Xiaogan as an example, it analyzes the main drawbacks of the municipal district management system and proposes 6 reform suggestions. Finally, it points out that there are 98 prefecture-level cities similar to Xiaogan in the country. If Xiaogan can pioneer a new path in the management system reform of municipal districts, it will make an important contribution to the reform of similar prefecture-level cities. Second Part General Survey Report. It includes 6 parts and 33 chapters: Part 1 Overview (3 chapters), mainly reflecting the administrative divisions, population, geographical environment, resources, economic and social development, etc.; Part 2 Economy (12 chapters), mainly reflecting the reform of the economic system, economic structure adjustment, individual and private economy, agriculture, industry, construction, transportation, postal services, telecommunications, business, tourism, finance, insurance, finance, taxation, prices, audits, and development zones; Part 3 Social Structure (5 chapters), mainly reflecting social stratification, social mobility, marriage, birth, family, labor employment, migrant workers, social security, social assistance, social security and management; Part 4 Social Affairs (5 chapters), mainly reflecting education, science and technology, culture, sports, radio, television, medical and health; Part 5 Politics (4 chapters), mainly reflecting the Communist Party of China organizations, people's government, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Democratic Parties, mass organizations, residents' committees, and village committees; Part 6 Construction and Environment (4 chapters), mainly reflecting urban planning, urban construction, rural construction, environmental pollution and treatment, natural disasters and prevention. Third Part Special Survey Report. It includes 15 topics, including 5 economic topics, including 1 farm in the primary industry, 2 companies in the secondary industry, and 2 units in the tertiary industry; 4 education topics, including 1 primary school, 1 senior high school, 1 secondary vocational and technical school, and 1 higher vocational and technical college; 2 medical and health topics, including 1 central hospital and 1 rehabilitation hospital; 2 cultural topics, including 1 Xiaowan Culture Theme Park and 1 elderly cadres activity center; 2 social management topics, including 1 traffic police detachment and 1 administrative service center. Fourth Part Household Survey Report: "Questionnaire Survey Report of 781 Households." It includes 9 parts: , survey work. Second, families and population, including urban, town, and rural households, population, employed and unemployed population, etc. Third, the occupational status of employed persons, including the region, industry, ownership, occupational distribution, and grouping of annual net income of employed persons in urban, town, and rural areas. Fourth, family income and family property, including urban, town, and rural households' contract management, income and its structure, family property and its structure, etc. Fifth, housing and durable consumer goods, including urban, town, and rural households' housing and durable consumer goods ownership. Sixth, political and social activities, including urban, town, and rural respondents' awareness of leaders' names, participation in elections, personnel exchanges, and outdoor activities, etc. Seventh, problems encountered and solutions, including urban, town, and rural respondents' problems encountered in the recent two years, involved personnel, and adopted solutions, etc. Eighth, leisure time and activities, including urban, town, and rural respondents' leisure time and main leisure activities in the past year, etc. Ninth, personal perceptions, including urban, town, and rural respondents' evaluation and estimation of life in the past five years, feelings about work and living conditions, and feelings about living environment, etc.