Spatial and Temporal Differences in the Green Efficiency of Water Resources in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and Their Influencing Factors

Chong Huang, Kedong Yin, Zhe Liu and Tonggang Cao
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Chong Huang: School of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Kedong Yin: Institute of Marine Economy and Management, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China
Zhe Liu: School of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Tonggang Cao: College of Environment Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-18

Abstract: Using panel data from 11 regions (9 provinces and two cities) in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) during 2002–2017, the regional differences in and spatial characteristics of the green efficiency of water resources along the YREB were analyzed. The undesirable outputs slacks-based measure-data envelopment analysis, Malmquist index, and social network analysis models were employed. A dynamic panel using a system generalized method of moments model was established to empirically examine the main factors influencing green efficiency. The results show the following. First, temporally, green efficiency fluctuates while showing an overall decreasing trend; spatially, green efficiency generally decreases in this order: downstream, upstream, then midstream. Second, the change in the total factor productivity (TFP) index shows an overall increasing trend, with TFP improvement mainly attributable to technology. Third, green efficiency shows a significant spatial correlation. All provinces are in the spatial correlation network, and the network, as a whole, has strong stability. Finally, water resource endowment, water prices, government environmental control strength, and the water resources utilization structure have a significant impact on green efficiency.

Keywords: Yangtze River Economic Belt; green efficiency of water resources; SBM-DEA model; Malmquist index; social network analysis; system GMM model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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