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Evaluation of Urban–Rural Total Factor Flow Efficiency Based on Multiple Symbiosis: Insights from 27 Provinces in China

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  • Xiangmei Zhu

    (School of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China)

  • Huwei Cao

    (School of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China)

  • Shaohua Guo

    (School of Economics and Management, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China)

Abstract

The rational flow of production factors is crucial for promoting benign interactions between urban and rural areas. To unveil the intrinsic mechanisms of factor flow pathways promoting mutual symbiosis between urban and rural areas, this study, based on symbiosis theory, takes total factor flow including land, technology, capital, and labor as inputs and urban–rural symbiosis level as output. Utilizing the Super-Efficiency Slack-Based Measure (SBM) model, this study calculates the urban–rural total factor flow efficiency of 27 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021 and explores specific improvement directions of urban–rural factor flow based on projection analysis. This study revealed the following findings: (1) The overall efficiency of urban–rural total factor flow in China shows a fluctuating upward trend but has not yet reached an effective state. There are significant regional disparities, with 8 provinces such as Guangdong and Fujian reaching Pareto optimality, while the remaining 19 provinces exhibit varying degrees of inefficiency. (2) Provinces with insufficient symbiotic production are mainly concentrated in the central and western regions and the northeast region, with 14 provinces including Inner Mongolia showing the inadequate transformation of urban–rural symbiosis. However, except for Hainan, the situation is gradually improving in other regions annually. (3) There is input redundancy in total factor, where land, labor, and capital redundancy are the main reasons for the inefficiency of urban–rural total factor flow in China. However, trends show that the redundancy of land, labor, and capital elements is improving annually, while technology redundancy is worsening. (4) Through a comprehensive analysis of input redundancy, output deficiency, symbiosis coefficient, and efficiency, this study categorizes the impact of factor flow on urban–rural symbiosis level into basic matching, redundancy, and comprehensive scarcity types. The research provides scientific guidance for promoting sustainable development through the rational flow of total factors and offers valuable insights for similar countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangmei Zhu & Huwei Cao & Shaohua Guo, 2024. "Evaluation of Urban–Rural Total Factor Flow Efficiency Based on Multiple Symbiosis: Insights from 27 Provinces in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:13:p:5385-:d:1421599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qing Lan & Chunxiang Liu & Shuang Ling, 2019. "Research on Measurement of Symbiosis Degree Between National Fitness and the Sports Industry from the Perspective of Collaborative Development," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Tone, Kaoru, 2002. "A slacks-based measure of super-efficiency in data envelopment analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(1), pages 32-41, November.
    3. Tian, Yasi & Qian, Jing & Wang, Lei, 2021. "Village classification in metropolitan suburbs from the perspective of urban-rural integration and improvement strategies: A case study of Wuhan, central China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    4. Zhang, Huafeng, 2017. "Opportunity or new poverty trap: Rural-urban education disparity and internal migration in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 112-124.
    5. Tone, Kaoru, 2001. "A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(3), pages 498-509, May.
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