Dynamic Changes, Spatiotemporal Differences and Factors Influencing the Urban Eco-Efficiency in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow River

Yu Zhang, Wenliang Geng, Pengyan Zhang, Erling Li, Tianqi Rong, Ying Liu, Jingwen Shao and Hao Chang
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Yu Zhang: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Wenliang Geng: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Pengyan Zhang: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Erling Li: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Tianqi Rong: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Ying Liu: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Jingwen Shao: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Hao Chang: Research Center of Regional Development and Planning, College of Environment and Planning, Institute of Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: The measurement of eco-efficiency is an important tool to evaluate the level of urban sustainable development. Therefore; improving urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River ensures the implementation of ecological protection and high-quality development strategies in the Yellow River Basin. In this study; the dynamic changes of urban eco-efficiency and spatiotemporal differences in the lower reaches of the Yellow River were investigated using the Super-SBM (Super-Slack measure model) model with undesirable outputs and standard deviation ellipse. The STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression Population; Affluence and Technology) model was introduced to analyze the factors affecting the change in urban eco-efficiency. The results showed that the overall urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River has not reached the optimal level. The overall eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River in Shandong Province was higher than that in Henan Province but the gap is narrowing. The spatial differentiation of urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River showed the following trends: “blooming in the middle and reverse development at both ends” in the high-value area and gradual decrease in the low-value area. From 2007 to 2018; a direction was notable with respect to the development of urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River; with the centripetal force weakening. Although the mean center of urban eco-efficiency located in Shandong Province; it notably shifted to the west during the study period. In terms of driving factors; affluence and technological progress play positive roles in driving eco-efficiency; while investment intensity; industrial structure; and foreign investment intensity hindered the optimization and improvement of urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The results of this study show that urban eco-efficiency in the lower reaches of the Yellow River is improving; but the regional coordination is poor. The main methods promoting the sustainable development in the study area include changing the mode of extensive investments and the introduction of foreign capital; which improve the energy efficiency and promote faster and better economic development.

Keywords: eco-efficiency; Super-SBM; STIRPAT; lower reaches of Yellow River (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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