Spatial Measurements and Influencing Factors of Comprehensive Human Development in China

Zaijun Li, Xiang Zheng and Suleman Sarwar
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Zaijun Li: Research Institute of Central Jiangsu Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Xiang Zheng: School of Business, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-20

Abstract: Comprehensive human development is the ultimate goal of achieving a happy life and creating sustainable social development. This study examines 31 provinces in China as the research object, constructs an evaluation index system for comprehensive human development in three dimensions (human–nature, human–society, human–human), and analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution patterns. Barrier and regression analyses are used to identify the main drivers of the levels in different regions. The results show that: (1) China’s level of comprehensive human development has been on the rise since 2005. The level of harmonious development in human–nature and human–society is constantly improving, while the process of harmonious development in the human–human dimension is, relatively, lagging behind. There are large regional differences, with high-level areas being distributed in the northeastern and eastern coastal provinces, while the central and western regions are farther behind. (2) An analysis of the barriers shows that the development of green infrastructure is the main barrier affecting differences in the level of harmonious development in the human–nature dimension. Income distribution, housing problems, and recreation levels are the main barriers affecting differences in the level of harmonious development in the human–society dimension. The level of information technology and aging issues are the main barriers affecting the differences in the level of harmonious development of the human–human dimension. (3) Regression analysis shows that the level of economic development and the degree of openness have a significant impact on the level of comprehensive human development, and that industrialization plays a negative role, while the size of government and the level of marketization have a weak effect on comprehensive human development.

Keywords: human development index; spatio-temporal pattern; obstacles; Chinese provincial territories (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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