Spatial analysis of regional economic development based on GIS in Chongqing, China

The differences in development elements lead to spatial disparities of regional economic development. The study, using principal component analysis and spatial autocorrelation method, has found that the economic development in Chongqing was featured with strong positive spatial autocorrelation. The positive spatial autocorrelation appears in two forms named "HH" type and “LL" type. According to the survey and research results, the main city of Chongqing belongs to "HH" type, the southeast and the northeast, such as Pengshui, Fengjie, Wushan and Wuxi, belong to “LL" type. This spatial autocorrelation is caused by both natural and social factors. The results of overlay analysis show that strong spatial gathering in the northeast and southeast is caused by hilly land form with high slop and elevation, while the economic disparities and spatial gathering in other areas are more possibly caused by social factors, including the advantages of transportation and the early economic development.