Experiences and lessons of American western development

From a global perspective, the imbalance of regional economic development is a common phenomenon. Except pocket countries like Monaco and Andorra, almost all countries are facing regional problems to varying degrees, especially the western United States and China have many similarities in geographical location, topography, natural resources and their importance to their own countries. Today, when China is vigorously developing the western region, it is undoubtedly of great practical significance to learn from the successful experience of American western development.

The western development of the United States was prepared in the forties and fifties of the19th century, starting from the civil war and finishing in the middle of the 20th century. Used before and after 100 years. Under the background of market economy and on the basis of large-scale population migration, the western development of the United States makes full use of the advanced material and technical means provided by capitalist industrialization to develop various natural resources and promote the social and economic development of the western United States. As far as its nature is concerned, it is a typical regional economic development model. The western development of the United States has basically achieved the strategic goal of the American government, that is, the political and economic integration between the East and the West, which has had a far-reaching impact on the rapid development of the American national economy. Its main experience can be roughly summarized as follows:

1, which not only adheres to the principle of market economy, but also gives full play to the important role of the government in the western development. In the history of American western development, the government has played an irreplaceable role. The American government's intervention in the western development involves not only the formulation of relevant policies and regulations and the establishment of special government departments, but also the government's capital investment and income redistribution in the western development. In addition, local governments such as states and counties have quite flexible autonomy, which attracts enterprises to a great extent and consolidates the economic foundation of the western development of the United States. The western development of the United States began under the framework of market economy. Because of spontaneous development, the enthusiasm and creativity of enterprises and individuals have been fully exerted. Although there are phenomena of resource waste and environmental damage, the solution of capital and human resources has not encountered great difficulties. Under the influence of market economy, after hundreds of years of development, the western region has realized the integration of economic development with the eastern region.

2. Encourage migration and talent flow. In the history of American western development, immigrants played a vital role. The discovery of gold mines in California and the rise of the gold rush attracted a large number of immigrants from Europe. From 1848- 1860, it has developed from a small town in the west to a famous city with a population of 380,000-San Francisco. If the immigrants were attracted by the lure of profits and the spontaneous role of the market when the gold rush rose, then the government's guidance played an important role in the later western immigrants. Cheap land sale and lease attracted a large number of immigrants to settle in the west. There are not only ordinary workers here, but also high-quality talents with various skills, including businessmen, capitalists and craftsmen. They are full of pioneering spirit and adventurous spirit and have played an important role in the development of the western United States.

3. Pay attention to infrastructure construction. In the process of developing the west, the United States attaches great importance to the construction of infrastructure, especially the construction of transportation facilities. At the end of 19, the national railway transportation network was basically formed, which had a great impact on the development of the western region and the national economy. Many economists say that the American history in the19th century is basically a successful railway history. The priority development of the transportation industry has promoted the regional specialization of the western economy and the formation of a unified national market, and also created conditions for the development of other departments and industries in the western region.

4. Pay attention to the popularization of science and technology. Science and technology have played a vital role in the development of the western United States. The western United States has low land price, abundant resources, mild climate and relatively cheap labor, which is very suitable for developing high-tech industries. After World War II, the western and southern regions seized the opportunity that a large number of American military industries were converted to civilian use, and rapidly developed high-tech industries such as aerospace, atomic energy and electronics. Several of the most famous research and production bases of high-tech industries in the United States, such as "Silicon Valley" in California, "Triangle Research Zone" in North Carolina and computer industrial zone in Atlanta, are all located in the west and south.

5. Promoting regional development with growth centers. The so-called growth center refers to the economic center region that can promote the economic integration and economic growth of the corresponding region, and most of them are urban networks composed of cities of different sizes. In the western development of the United States 100, a large number of growth centers at different levels appeared. The influence of the growth center on the western development of the United States is not only manifested in the diffusion effect on the economy through the diffusion of commodity flow, immigrant flow, cultural flow and information flow, but also in the aggregation effect that makes economic activities tend to the growth center through the economic and cultural ties of central cities.