[硏究論文] 中國의 省 行政區域制度 改革에 관한 硏究

Refoming China's Provincial Administrative Area System: Economic Rationality or Political Logic?

China's provinces are the highest-level unit of local government systems that have been instituted since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). For all intents and purposes, they were set up to reinforce central control over various regions-often irrespective of their individual local conditions. While the reform of the provincial administrative system has long been a subject of debate in the academic and policy community, it has taken on a new relevance in China's reform and open-door era. Central to the problem is the transition from the planned economy to the market economy in China. Together with changes in the functions of the government, the level of economic development, and the means of communication, the traditional provincial administrative areas no longer effectively manage such diverse demands generated by the landmass, population, social strata, and economic issues. They are in essence a series of problems created by the gaps between economic rationality and political logic. Even if there is a widespread perception that the irrational demarcation of the provincial administrative areas is a hindrance to China's modernization drive, it is critical to note that they are political-rather than economic or administrative-issues that defy easy or conclusive solutions. Setting aside various reform proposals including the one that "reduces the size of, but increase the number of, provinces," the actual implementation of such proposals appears premature as it touches upon a host of political problems including the ongoing debate on the central-local relationship in China.