Population considerations in the formulation of China’s main function region plans

Hao Yan, Institute of Economic Research, National Development and Reform Commission

The paper discusses the population variable in the formulation of China’s Main Function Region Plans, a new national planning program initiated by the 11th Five-Year Plan in early 2008. In consideration of factors like population distribution, ecological carrying capacity, development density and growth potential, the program aims to divide China’s territorial space into four main function regions: regions of optimized development, regions of intensified development, regions of restrained development and regions of development ban, to support policy making on regional development and investment issues in future. Population is no doubt a key variable in the plan. Proposed are also four corresponding regions: regions of population stabilization, regions of population concentration, regions of population reduction and regions of population limitation. The author puts forward a number of policy suggestions to prioritize the population variable in the planning process, grouped in three areas: the principles, population policies, and other related socio-economic policies.