Advancing Human Development Assessment in Chinese Cities: A Novel Data Envelopment Analysis-Based Benefit of the Doubt Approach

Hadi Mareeh (), Peiwen Li (), Yaotian Sun (), Ruchuan Zhang () and Aijun Li ()
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Hadi Mareeh: Shandong School of Development, Shandong University
Peiwen Li: Shandong School of Development, Shandong University
Yaotian Sun: Shandong School of Development, Shandong University
Ruchuan Zhang: Shandong School of Development, Shandong University
Aijun Li: Shandong School of Development, Shandong University

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2025, vol. 179, issue 1, No 10, 269-313

Abstract: Abstract Acknowledging the inadequacies of conventional metrics like the human development index in measuring human development, this study proposes a novel comprehensive framework that leverages a data envelopment analysis-based benefit of the doubt model to evaluate the performance of human development system presented in this study. To our knowledge, such an endeavor is very few in the extant literature. An empirical analysis of Chinese cities spanning the period of 2011–2019 provides novel insights into human development practices, unveiling crucial performance and their characteristics in terms of dynamics, spatial distribution, and convergence, which are pivotal for comprehensive policymaking. The primary findings firstly reveal an upward trajectory in human development and health. Conversely, education exhibits a conspicuous downward trend. Income initially declines, yet subsequently rises, culminating in an overall upward pattern. Secondly, imbalances across dimensions within cities suggest that strategic improvements in one area could significantly enhance overall human development outcomes. Thirdly, there exists a significant positive spatial dependence and clustering among cities. Finally, a trend towards convergence in performance among cities indicates potential improvement and equilibration in actual practices. Our innovative approach provides fresh perspectives on human development, emphasizing the need for integrated policies for sustainable growth in China’s cities.

Keywords: Human development performance; DEA-based BoD model; Chinese cities; Spatial autocorrelation analysis; Performance convergence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-025-03601-1

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