在全球經濟結構變革下，全球化拉開了城鄉的經濟距離，而台灣基於長期的重北輕南政策下，加速了人口都市化，造成城鄉生活環境品質差距擴大及資源多半往北部集中，使得南北兩端的發展趨勢有很大的差異，而政府期望藉由區域發展，促進產業與人口區位合理分佈，以縮短南北兩大都會區人口與就業之距離。本研究之目的，即以台北都會區(Taipei metropolitan area)與高雄都會區(Kaohsiung metropolitan area)為分析對象，應用區域經濟理論中之「經濟基礎分析法」(economic base analysis)，探討我國南北兩大都會區人口與就業，以供公共部門從事政策制定或改革之參考。本文首先針對區域經濟基礎理論與經濟基礎分析之研究方法進行說明。其次根據研究中針對台北都會區與高雄都會區所採取之定義方式及區域範圍，配合歷年來實際資料，利用區位商數法（location quotient；簡稱L.Q.）分析各都會區之基礎產業(basic industry)，並採計量經濟之研究方法進行就業與人口之相關乘數效果(multiplier effect)實證分析。本研究主要的成果為：(1)兩大都會區基礎產業由過去原本工業產業轉型以服務業或工商服務業併進為主之產業；(2)兩大都會區就業人口演變態勢則呈現差距擴大現象；(3)由就業乘數效果分析可知，倘若兩大都會區藉由發展基礎產業帶動區域內總就業人口，台北都會區應發展商業、運輸倉儲及通信業與其他服務業，高雄都會區則應發展商業；(4)由人口乘數效果分析可知，倘若兩大都會區藉由發展基礎產業刺激區域總人口數，台北都會區應發展商業、運輸倉儲及通信業與其他服務業，高雄都會區則應發展商業。

Recently, the globalization expands the economic distance of urban and rural. Although the government strives to reach a balance between regional developments, however, there are still constant criticisms alleging more resources are allocated for the northern region, while less for the southern region. Create urban-rural gap between the quality of the living environment, and resources are mostly concentrated in northern Taiwan. Resulting population urbanization, making southern Taiwan and Northern Taiwan of the development is very different, and the government hopes that the use of regional development to promote regional industries and population distribution, and reducing regional development gap. The objective of this study is to analyze the population and employment of Taipei metropolitan area and Kaohsiung metropolitan area by "economic-based analysis" to provide for government policy-making. In the present study, regional economics theory and economics-based analysis method are explained first. Then using location quotient (L.Q.) to analyze of the basic industries in the metropolitan area, and population and employment multiplier of Taipei metropolitan area and Kaohsiung metropolitan area are analyzed by econometric method which is based on the study of the differences between Taipei metropolitan area and Kaohsiung metropolitan area by literature review. The results show that. (1) Two major metropolitan areas of basic industries in the past the original industrial or industrial transformation to a service-based business and services of the industry keep abreast of the times. (2) Metropolitan area employment situation of the population evolution of the phenomenon showed a widening gap. (3) By the employment multiplier effect analysis indicates that if the two major metropolitan areas by the development of basic industries led the region in total employment population, the Taipei metropolitan area should be developed commercial, transport storage and communication industry and other service industries, the Kaohsiung metropolitan area should be development commercial. (4) By the multiplier effect of the population tells us that if the two major metropolitan areas by the development of basic industries to stimulate regional total population, the Taipei metropolitan area should be the development of commercial, transport storage and communication industry and other service industries, the Kaohsiung metropolitan area should be development commercial.