Coupling and Coordination Degrees of the Core Water–Energy–Food Nexus in China

Shasha Xu, Weijun He, Juqin Shen, Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu, Liang Yuan and Yang Kong
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Shasha Xu: Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Weijun He: College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
Juqin Shen: Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu: College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
Liang Yuan: College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
Yang Kong: College of Economic & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Achieving sustainable development in the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus is gaining global attention. The coupling and coordination degrees are a way to measure sustainable development levels of a complex system. This study assessed the coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus and identified key factors that affect sustainable development. First, an index system for assessing coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus was built. Second, the development levels of three subsystems as well as the coupling and coordination degrees of the core WEF nexus in China were calculated. The results showed that from 2007 to 2016, the mean value of the coupling degree was 0.746 (range (0.01, 1)), which was a high level. This proved that the three resources were interdependent. Hence, it was necessary to study their relationship. However, the mean value of the coordination degree was 0.395 (range (0, 1)), which was a low level. This showed that the coordination development of the core WEF nexus in China was low. It is necessary to take some measures to improve the situation. According to the key factors that affect the development levels of water, energy, and food subsystems, the authors put forward some suggestions to improve the coordination development of the WEF system in China.

Keywords: core water–energy–food nexus; coupling degree; coordination degree (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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