Examination of the Coordination and Impediments of Rural Socio-Economic-Spatial Coupling in Western Hunan from the Standpoint of Sustainable Development

Clarifying the coordination and impediments of social, economic, and spatial connection in rural areas is essential for advancing rural revitalization, urban-rural integration, and regional coordinated development. Utilizing the 24 counties and districts in western Hunan as case studies, we developed an evaluation index system for sustainable rural development across three dimensions: social, economic, and spatial. We employed the coupling model, coordination model, and obstacle factor model to investigate the comprehensive development level, coupling and coordination status, and obstacle factors of the villages in the study area at three temporal points: 2002, 2012, and 2022. The findings indicate the following: (1) The degree of rural development in western Hunan has escalated swiftly throughout the study period, transitioning from relative homogeneity to a heterogeneous developmental landscape, accompanied by issues such as inadequate development and regional polarization. (2) The overall rural social, economic, and spatial indices are low, and the degree of coupling has increased variably across different study periods; the average coordination degree has gradually improved over time, yet the level of coordination remains low, and spatial development is unbalanced. (3) The criterion-level impediments hindering the sustainable development of rural society, economy, and space are, in descending order, social factors, spatial factors, and economic factors. The urbanization rate, total fixed investment rate, and arable land change rate are the primary impediments in most counties and cities. The study’s findings will inform the planning of rural development in ethnic regions, promote sustainable social and spatial advancement in the countryside, and serve as a reference for rural revitalization efforts.