The Transformation Of Xi'an City Poverty Spatial Variation Study

Since the 1990s, along with the double transition of China's economic and social structure, as well as the acceleration of urbanization process, the new urban poverty problem, mainly including the "laid offs" and the "migrant workers", which is different from the low-level equilibrium widespread urban poverty before the reform and opening-up and the traditional "three-nos" urban poverty later, seems to be a new and unique phenomenon to China's economic reforms. In addition, due to the commercial development of higher education, National Universities'blindly enrollment leads to geometric growth to the number of graduates.Coupled with deep-rooted issues such as household registration system and housing system, there are millions of college graduates inhabiting in the "city-villages" in big cities across the country, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an and so on.they have become the the fourth largest vulnerable groups (fanners, fanner workers, laid-off workers), which should call forth urgent social concern.In this context, with the technology support of Maplnfo, based on infonned research results and lastly 10 years urban poverty-related statistics and survey data, maps and other data in Xi'an, the paper firstly studied characteristics of Xi'an urban poverty, spatial distribution and evolution of urban poverty, and then carried out sufficient field researches to some typical regions, and lastly probed into the spatial variation mechanism of urban poverty in Xi'an in the transition period. All of these works are based on the theories of urban geography, social geography, sociology and statistics and so on. The aims and meanings of this research are to effectively reduce the urban poverty population, solve the problem of urban poverty centralization, and provide some practical information for the government and the city planning and managament department to enhance the city image, build a harmonious Xi'an and an international metropolis.The main conclusions can be summed up as the following three aspects:Firstly, the urban poverty status quo in Xi'an in transition period may be:(1) The urban poverty is expanding, deepening, and presenting a characteristic of diversification and complication.(2) The present urban poverty stratum, with a basic structural features of younth, relatively low level of education, low income, and low consumption levels, is a special social class produced in a particular stage of social development. (3) Urban poverty in transition period is a integrative result of many economic and social factors and individual factors.Secondly, spatial distribution and evolution state of urban poverty in Xi'an in Transition Period.(1) In the more than ten years from 1998 to 2008, with the rapid socio-economic development, the spatial variation of urban household poverty population location quotient of 6 city districts in Xi'an is reducing. The overall situation of spatial concentration has been improved. And it can be summarized into three regions types:Absolute improved district (such as Lianhu and Yanta District), Relative improved district (Weiyang District) and weakly changed areas (new city, Beilin and Baqiao District). Also, the number and demographic composition ratio of urban poor in these districts all have internal differences.(2) The spatial distribution of urban poverty in Xi'an shows a scatter-like mode, which is composed with some large mixed neighborhoods and small poor communities. Among them, the localization of urban poverty neighborhoods are strongly coupling with those early constructed residential areas, such as the old town, the traditional industrial areas; Floating urban poor population live in the suburbs named "urban village", and the relatively poor gathering area are with poor living and environment conditions.(3) With the layout optimization of the main city, the reform process of shanty towns and urban villages speeding up, urban poverty ghettos have a trend to spread to near and outer suburbs.(4) Urban village and shantytown housing projects are located in the suburban areas and outer suburbs. So, the affordable housing area for the urban poor in the future will show a characteristics of narrow strip and fragmentation.Thirdly, the social space variation status of the urban poor in Xi'an in Transition Period(1) Confined to themselves and their families with poor social and economic conditions, the urban poor living conditions are at a low level in general, and its internal differences are large.(2)The urban poor's daily routine activities are monotonous, the scope of their activity space are of small size, and also has a low level features.(3) Limited by small space behavior, the urban poor coverage of the image space are smaller and very vague. And elements involved are simpler.