Measurement Method and Empirical Research on the Sustainable Development Capability of a Regional Industrial System Based on Ecological Niche Theory in China

Hang Yin, Qing He, Tao Guo, Jianxin Zhu and Botao Yu
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Hang Yin: School of Economic and Management, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
Qing He: School of Economic and Management, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
Tao Guo: School of Economic and Management, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
Jianxin Zhu: School of Economic and Management, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Street, Harbin 150001, China
Botao Yu: School of Economic and Management, Northeast Forestry University, 26 Hexing Road, Harbin 150040, China

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 12, 1-25

Abstract: From the analytical view of a recycling economy, the regional system achieves the goal of sustainable development through improving resource utilization efficiency, reducing energy consumption and ameliorating the quality of water and air. The regional economic system’s potential for sustainable development is significantly influenced by regional industrial operational efficiency, which measures the cost of ecology, environment, energy and resources accompanying the economic growth. It is vital for national and regional governments to accelerate harmonious development between products of industrial department, consumption of energy and pollutants discharged. Under the guidance of ecological niche theory and recycling economy theory, the theoretical analysis on efficient relations between regional industrial growth, energy consumption, resources utilization and environmental carrying capacity has been carried out from horizontal and vertical respects. Industrial operational efficiency and the sensitivity coefficient in response to the change of every input and output index can be calculated and critical factors, which restrict sustainable development capability, can be found out so that quantitative references could be provided for administrative decisions. As for the measurement method, a super efficiency mixed data envelopment analysis model, which wipes off self-limited condition and either contains both meeting cone characteristic indexes or not, has been established and applied. Statistics from 1993 to 2012 in China are collected to carry out empirical research. On the basis of further analysis, an adjustment strategy can be constituted to improve the capability for sustainable development.

Keywords: sustainable development capability; industrial system; ecological niche; industrial operational efficiency; empirical research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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