The Measurements and Analysis of Spatial-Temporal Variations of Human Development Index Based on Planetary Boundaries in China: Evidence from Provincial-Level Data

Siying Chen, Zhixiong Tan (), Xingwang He and Lichen Zhang
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Siying Chen: School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Zhixiong Tan: School of Public Policy and Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Xingwang He: School of Graduate, Rocket Force University of Engineering, Xi’an 710025, China
Lichen Zhang: School of Law, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: It is necessary to pursue the economic and social development of humanity to cope with the challenges of the global ecological environment within the constraints of planetary boundaries. For constructing the evaluation model of human development considering the earth pressure from the sub-national level, and observing the changes of human development level under the earth pressure in China in recent years, this paper constructs the PB-HDI (Planetary Boundaries-Human Development Index) index to measure the human development level under planetary boundaries in 30 Chinese provinces of 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2020; and carries out the analysis of evolutionary characteristics and spatial heterogeneity inspired by the path of balancing the relationship between environmental protection and economic development in China. We found: (1) the regional PB-HDI differences show a convergence trend, with a gradual decrease in low-level provinces; (2) the regional heterogeneity of PB-HDI is obvious. The differences between eastern provinces are the largest; (3) resources and environment constitute the outer circle of economic and social development, forming a “doughnut” inclusion pattern that discourages high-level development beyond the boundary and low-level development within the boundary. In general, there are significant differences in economic development, environmental protection level, social security capacity, industrial structure, innovation level, policy environment, and other basic conditions among different regions of China, and sustainable development paths need to be determined according to local conditions. This study is critical for expanding the application of the sub-national human development assessment for global stress and optimizing China’s sustainable development path.

Keywords: planetary boundaries; strong sustainable development; safety thresholds; doughnut (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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