Regional development is a multi-dimensional concept that involves both sustainable development within the region and coordinated development among regions. The aim of regional development is to achieve comprehensive human social welfare, poverty reduction and ecological protection in underdeveloped regions, as well as promoting economic growth and high-quality life in developed areas. It is also important to work together as a regional community to reduce the likelihood of misaligned goals, resource duplication and conflicting objectives.
Research in the field of regional development is carried out at various scales including cities, counties, regions and countries. Specifically, it aims to provide comprehensive analysis of the social, economic and environmental aspects of a regional economy using methods such as input-output analysis and general equilibrium modeling, as well as to explore the development dynamics of a region by studying its trajectories in terms of convergence status and driving factors.
The research in the field of regional development in Development Geography has a long history and has made important contributions to addressing issues such as recognizing the new phased characteristics of regional development caused by deep globalization, eliminating negative regional externalities and promoting coordinated development, as well as building a better system of regional governance.
In the future, research in the field of regional development will further focus on the following aspects: