Abstract: Regional economic difference is one of the core contents of regional economics. In this paper, the comprehensive assessing indexes are selected from the two aspects, i. e., the economic development difference and the residential income difference, so as to analyze and assess the dynamic change of the regional economic difference in Xinjiang since the recent 20 years. By a comprehensive analysis, the following conclusions can be obtained： (1) From 1978 to 1990, the absolute difference of the regional economic development levels among the prefectures and the autonomous prefectures in Xinjiang was extended but the relative difference was reduced. In the 1990's, both the absolute and relative differences of the economic development levels among the prefectures and the autonomous prefectures were extended year by year, and in the process the relative difference was reduced in a low amplitude in 1998. (2) From 1978 to 1999, the absolute wage difference of the urban staffs and workers was extended year by year, whereas the relative one was reduced from the end of the 1970's to the end of the 1980's but has been basically extended since the 1990's. The change process of the absolute difference of per capita net income of the farmers and herdsmen was similar to that of the urban staffs and workers, whereas the relative one had an extending process at the end of the 1970's, it was reduced in the 1980's and has been basically in an extending trend since the 1990's. (3) The absolute difference of the per capita consumption among the prefectures and the autonomous prefectures has been in an extending status since recent 20 years; except reduced in high amplitude in 1995, the relative difference has been gradually extended since the end of the 1970's. The change of the residents'consumption difference can indirectly reveal the change of the residents'practical income difference among the prefectures and the autonomous prefectures. The existence and the extending of the regional economic difference will result in many negative influences on the economy, society, politics, justice, nationalities, etc., which must be paid a great attention to.

Key words: regional economic difference, dynamic analysis, Xinjiang