Evaluation of Sustainable Urban Development under Environmental Constraints: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province, China

Yaqiong Wang, Guanghui Yuan, Ying Yan and Xueliang Zhang
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Yaqiong Wang: Business School, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
Guanghui Yuan: Fintech Research Institute, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200433, China
Ying Yan: School of economics and management, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201701, China
Xueliang Zhang: Institute of Finance and Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200433, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Sustainable development is a long-term solution for urban development and a guideline for urban development. Only by better coordination around the population, resources, and environment can the city achieve sustained and steady development. In order to evaluate the efficiency of sustainable urban development under environmental constraints, this paper takes 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province as an example. To address the infeasibility problem in the Malmquist-Luenberger (M-L) index, a modified M-L index analysis method based on the new directional distance function (DDF) is adopted. Combined with the consideration of desirable and undesirable outputs, a linear programming model for sustainable urban development evaluation is constructed to provide a scientific decision-making basis for sustainable development of the city. The results show that the growth of sustainable urban development efficiency is not only related to desirable outputs but also affected by undesirable outputs. Technical change is the main driver of most sustainable urban development efficiency growth. However, efficiency changes also affect the sustainable development potential of cities to a certain extent. Through the modified M-L index analysis, we analyze the characteristics of different regions of Jiangsu Province, the changes in efficiency and the impact of technological innovation on sustainable urban development, and give policy recommendations to promote sustainable urban development.

Keywords: sustainable urban development efficiency; modified Malmquist-Luenberger index; efficiency change (EC); technical change (TC); directional distance function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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