The Effect Of Intergovernmental Relations On Multi-center Urban Spatial Structure

This dissertation is written to answer the research question that how intergovernmental relations affect the formation of multi-center spatial structure in cities. Based on the case comparison of Shanghai and Tokyo, which achieved different outcomes regarding building multi-center spatial structure, the research question that how could intergovernmental relations have influence on the formation of multi-center spatial structure is highlighted.The dissertation notes that through urban planning, administrative resources and financial resources, the intergovernmental relations affect the formation of multi-center spatial structure through certain ways. Comparing two patterns of intergovernmental relations in China and Japan, and based on their influence on formation of multi-center spatial structure in Shanghai and Tokyo, this dissertation figures out that the pattern of intergovernmental relations in China pays more attention to the upper administrative organization than the pattern of intergovernmental relations in Japan, and administrative power comes from top to bottom. The Japanese pattern regards the grass-root society as the source of power, and local governments have more autonomous power. Besides, the power of central and local governments are clearly regulated by the law and related regulation, which create equal relations among levels’governments.At last, this dissertation arrives at the conclusion that the intergovernmental relations pattern in Japan emphasizes the importance of local autonomy, and the source of power comes from bottom to top. What is more, the Japanese pattern has clear division of responsibilities among all level of governments and has better influence on forming the multi-center spatial structure compare to intergovernmental relations in China, which emphasizes the administrative power of upper government.