Development of Local Financial Systems inMainland China

摘要

Two Beijing-based economic geographers present a comprehensive study of localfinancial systems in China. The paper analyzes the most recently available (2006) regional dataon exogenous (state-owned, foreign-owned, and joint shareholder-owned) and endogenous (citycommercial banks and rural credit cooperatives) banks, highlighting the differences between thecountry's coastal and the lagging rural provinces located in China's central and western macrore-gions. A key component of the analysis is the geographic distribution of bank branches andassets. Special attention is devoted to Shanghai, the country's traditional financial center, whichhas attracted the bulk of foreign-owned banks and financial service providers seeking entry intothe vast Chinese market.