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Decoupling Analysis of Water Footprint and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region from 2004 to 2017

Author

Listed:
  • Yang Kong

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Weijun He

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Liang Yuan

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Juqin Shen

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Min An

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
    Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Xin Gao

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Zhaofang Zhang

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

  • Fuhua Sun

    (Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
    College of Agricultural Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Zhongchi Wan

    (College of Economics and Management, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China)

Abstract

The Beijing–Tianji–Hebei region (BTHR) is economically developed and densely populated, but its water resources are extremely scarce. A clear understanding of the decoupling relationship between water footprint and economic growth is conducive to facilitating and realizing the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in this region. This study calculated the water footprint and other related indicators of BTHR from 2004 to 2017, and objectively evaluated the utilization of water resources in the region. Then, logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) method was applied to study the driving factors that resulted in the change of water footprint and their respective effects. Finally, Tapio decoupling model was used to research the decoupling relationships between water footprint and economic growth, and between the driving factors of water footprint and economic growth. There are three main results in this research. (1) The water utilization efficiency in BTHR continues to improve, and the water footprint shows a gradually increasing trend during the research period, among which the agricultural water footprint accounts for a relatively high proportion. (2) The change of water footprint can be attributed to efficiency effect, economic effect, and population effect. Furthermore, efficiency effect is the decisive factor of water footprint reduction and economic effect is the main factor of water footprint increase, while population effect plays a weak role in promoting the increase in water footprint. (3) The decoupling status between water footprint and economic growth show a weak decoupling in most years, while the status between water footprint intensity and economic growth always remains strong decoupling. Moreover, population size and economic growth always show an expansive coupling state. In sum, it is advisable for policy makers to improve water utilization efficiency, especially agricultural irrigation efficiency, to raise residents’ awareness of water conservation, and increase the import of water-intensive products, so as to alleviate water shortage and realize the coordinated development of water resources and economic growth in BTHR.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang Kong & Weijun He & Liang Yuan & Juqin Shen & Min An & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Xin Gao & Zhaofang Zhang & Fuhua Sun & Zhongchi Wan, 2019. "Decoupling Analysis of Water Footprint and Economic Growth: A Case Study of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region from 2004 to 2017," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4873-:d:293739
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Montoya, Marco Antonio & Allegretti, Gabriela & Bertussi, Luís Antônio Sleimann & Talamini, Edson, 2023. "Domestic and foreign decoupling of economic growth and water consumption and its driving factors in the Brazilian economy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    3. Kong, Yang & He, Weijun & Shen, Juqin & Yuan, Liang & Gao, Xin & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Peng, Qingling & Degefu, Dagmawi Mulugeta & Sun, Fuhua, 2023. "Adaptability analysis of water pollution and advanced industrial structure in Jiangsu Province, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 481(C).
    4. Liang Yuan & Xia Wu & Weijun He & Yang Kong & Thomas Stephen Ramsey & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu, 2022. "A multi-weight fuzzy Methodological Framework for Allocating Coalition Payoffs of Joint Water Environment Governance in Transboundary River Basins," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(9), pages 3367-3384, July.

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