Abstract:
Urban-rural development transformation is targeted at ultimate urban-rural integration realization through urban-rural resource balancing and developing. Applying an Entropy Weighted TOPSIS method and Geographically Weighted Regression Model (GWR), this paper measured the degree of Zhejiang urban-rural development transformation in 1991, 2002, and 2013 by building an index system of urban-rural development transformation degree which incorporates four individual indicators, including population, land use, industry, and society. In addition, this paper also identified the driving forces for the transformation. Results show that 1) the urban-rural development transformation degree level is higher in the regions of northern Zhejiang Province, and the gap between the north and the southwest and the southeast is increasing; 2) the difference among different regions within the province is significant with high level of transformation concentrated in the regions surrounding the Hangzhou Bay, and the low level of transformation located in the banded regions between the southeast and the southwest borders; 3) the driving forces for northern Zhejiang’ high level of transformation include funds, market, and location; and 4) the southeast of Zhejiang with moderate level is influenced by funds and location, and the southwest of Zhejiang with the lowest level is merely driven by market force.