Why have the differences in economic been enlarged among china's various areas since the reform and open-door policies were carried out?What role has the factor of knowledge played in making those differences?How to measure the knowledge development gaps between areas?What characterize the status quo of those gaps?What has caused the formation thereof?How to narrow them?In this paper,the authors will,in theory and from the angle of case studies,discuss the important function of knowledge played in economic growth;put forward for the first time the indicator system in which to judge the level of knowledge growth,including the acquisition,absorption and exchange of knowledge;calculate the integrated indexed of knowledge development,stating the features of disparity therein in various areas;analyze further the main causes for this disparity,inclusive of economic and knowledge development patterns,the openness to other areas in China or to foreign countries,and the function played by the local government,etc.;and finally,advance a strategic framework to lessen the inequality in knowledge development in China's various areas,and concrete proposals for policies to be carried out.
