中国城市的等级金字塔

Core Viewpoint - The allocation of scarce public resources in China is primarily determined by administrative hierarchy rather than market price mechanisms, which helps to understand the development disparities and business environments among cities [2][8]. Group 1: City Hierarchy - China's governance structure is characterized by a "centralized system with a combination of vertical and horizontal management," where higher-level governments control resource allocation for lower-level governments [2][4]. - The top of the city hierarchy consists of four municipalities: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing, which have the highest administrative levels and receive preferential resource allocation [4][5]. - The second tier includes 15 sub-provincial cities, which have administrative levels between provinces and prefecture-level cities, allowing them to access resources similarly to municipalities [5][6]. Group 2: Resource Allocation Mechanism - The distribution of fiscal funds follows a top-down approach, where higher-level governments prioritize their own financial needs, often leading to a significant reduction in resources available for lower-level governments [8][9]. - The allocation of educational resources, particularly prestigious universities, is also influenced by city administrative levels, with most top universities located in higher-tier cities, creating disparities in access to quality education [10][11]. Group 3: Economic Research Findings - A study published in 2018 found that cities with higher administrative levels have higher total factor productivity (TFP) in manufacturing, with a 6% increase in TFP for each level increase in city hierarchy [11]. - The same research indicated that higher administrative levels lead to greater resource misallocation, with a 10% increase in misallocation for each level increase, suggesting that while more resources are available, efficiency decreases [11].