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The Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of the Chinese Cities’ Ecological Welfare Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Can Zhang

    (School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Jixia Li

    (School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Tengfei Liu

    (School of Business Administration, The Open University of China, Beijing 100039, China)

  • Mengzhi Xu

    (School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Huachun Wang

    (School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xu Li

    (China Life Reinsurance Company Ltd., Beijing 100039, China)

Abstract

In the “full world” where natural capital is scarce, within the limits of the ecological environment, the improvement of welfare is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development. The ecological wellbeing performance (EWP) of 284 cities in China from 2007 to 2020 was measured by the superefficient SBM-DEA model, considering undesirable output, and analyzing the evolutionary trends of overall comprehensive technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency. The Theil index was used to explore the source and distribution of the Chinese cities’ EWP differences. Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) were applied to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and driving factors of cities’ EWP. The results showed the following: (1) Regarding spatial and temporal distribution, the EWP of Chinese cities showed a fluctuating upward trend, in which pure technical efficiency > scale efficiency. (2) Considering regional differences, the differences in cities’ EWP were mainly intraregional rather than interregional. The contribution rates of distinct regions to the differences in EWP varied, i.e., western region > eastern region > central region > northeastern region. (3) In terms of spatial correlation, China’s EWP showed positive spatial correlation, i.e., high–high agglomeration and low–low agglomeration. (4) Concerning influencing factors, the level of financial development, the structure of secondary industries, the level of opening-up, and the degree of urbanization significantly improved EWP. Decentralization of fiscal revenue significantly inhibited improvement of EWP. Decentralization of fiscal expenditure and technological progress had no significant impact on the EWP. In the future, to improve cities’ EWP, China should focus on reducing differences in intraregional EWP, overcoming administrative regional limitations, encouraging regions with similar locations to formulate coordinated development plans, promoting economic growth, reducing levels of environmental pollution, and paying attention to the improvement of social welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Can Zhang & Jixia Li & Tengfei Liu & Mengzhi Xu & Huachun Wang & Xu Li, 2022. "The Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of the Chinese Cities’ Ecological Welfare Performance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-27, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12955-:d:938010
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    Cited by:

    1. Can Zhang & Tengfei Liu & Jixia Li & Mengzhi Xu & Xu Li & Huachun Wang, 2023. "Economic Growth Target, Government Expenditure Behavior, and Cities’ Ecological Efficiency—Evidence from 284 Cities in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-30, January.
    2. Can Zhang & Jixia Li, 2024. "The Impact of Official Promotion Incentives on Urban Ecological Welfare Performance and Its Spatial Effect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Yu Zhang & Xi Cai & Yanying Mao & Liudan Jiao & Liu Wu, 2023. "What Is the State of Development of Eco-Wellbeing Performance in China? An Analysis from a Three-Stage Network Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Lingyan Bao & Xuhui Ding & Jingxian Zhang & Dingyi Ma, 2023. "Can New Urbanization Construction Improve Ecological Welfare Performance in the Yangtze River Economic Belt?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    5. Jun Wang & Guixiang Zhang, 2022. "Dynamic Evolution, Regional Differences, and Spatial Spillover Effects of Urban Ecological Welfare Performance in China from the Perspective of Ecological Value," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-24, December.
    6. Xinyu Zhuang & Xin Li & Yisong Xu, 2022. "How Can Resource-Exhausted Cities Get Out of “The Valley of Death”? An Evaluation Index System and Obstacle Degree Analysis of Green Sustainable Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-29, December.

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