Change of Central Place System in China

本研究通过对改革和开放政策下中国自由市场的发展和区域分布的研究以及对郑州市自由市场功能的深入研究，得出以下结论：（1）郑州市自由市场的发展与区域分布的关系;（1）自由市场的数量和营业额不断增加，农村市场的数量在1948年超过了市场中心。市场营业额占零售业总营业额的比例也逐年上升。3)自由市场强化了它们作为易腐品市场的特征。4)自由市场根据不同的地区差异，特别是城市化和收入水平的差异，具有不同的特点。后一项研究工作得出以下结论：1）为大约2万人建立了一个自由市场，以供应他们的日常生活必需品（特别是易腐品）。2)自由市场还为来自农村地区的移民和城市中的失业或半失业人员提供非正式工作。3)郑州市及其周边地区的自由市场多为日常市场，起着低序中心场所和常设商铺的作用。

The investigator conducted two researches ; that is, 1) a research on the development and regional distribution of free markets in China under the reform and poening policy, and 2) an intensive research on the function of free markets in Zhengzhou City Region.Form the former research work, the following findings were brought in ; 1) The number of free markets and turnover at them have consistently increased and the number of rural markets exceeded that of market centers in 1948.2) The ratio of turnover at the markets per total retail turnover also have increased year by year. 3) The free markets have strengthened their character as the markets of perishables. 4) The free markets have different characteristics according to many kinds of regional differenciation, particularly thet in urbanization and income level.The latter research work brought in the following findings ; 1) A free market is established for about 20,000 population in order to supply their daily necessities (particularly perishables). 2) The free markets also offer informal jobs to the imigrants from rural area and the unemployed or semi-unemployed persons in the city. 3) Most of the free markets in and around Zhengzhou City are daily markets and function as low-order central places with permanent shops.