Bridging the Gap: Spatial Disparities in Coordinating New Infrastructure Construction and Inclusive Green Growth in China

Yujun Gao, Nan Chen and Xueying Chen ()
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Yujun Gao: Business School, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Nan Chen: Institute of Economics, Beijing Academy of Social Science, Beijing 100101, China
Xueying Chen: School of Economics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-24

Abstract: New infrastructure construction (NIC) is pivotal for advancing China’s sustainable development, yet the spatial interdependencies between NIC and inclusive green growth (IGG) remain critically underexplored. This study quantifies provincial-level NIC–IGG coordination dynamics across China (2011–2023) using a novel coupling coordination model. We further dissect regional disparities through Dagum Gini decomposition and identify causal drivers via QAP regression analysis. Key findings reveal: (1) Despite a gradual upward trend, overall NIC–IGG coordination remains suboptimal, hindering sustainable transition; (2) Regional disparities follow a “U-shaped” trajectory, primarily driven by inter-regional imbalances; (3) Uneven marketization is the dominant factor fragmenting spatial coordination. Our results expose systemic barriers to regionally integrated sustainable development and provide actionable pathways for place-based policies that synchronize NIC investment with IGG objectives.

Keywords: new infrastructure construction (NIC); inclusive green growth (IGG); coupling coordination degree model; Dagum Gini coefficient; quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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