The Multi-Dimensional Marginality of Inter-Provincial Border Regions: Spatio-Temporal Patterns and Driving Mechanisms in China

This study reconceptualises marginality in China’s inter-provincial border regions as a dynamic, scale-sensitive spatial relationship rather than a static condition of underdevelopment. Using the Hubei–Henan–Anhui border area as a case study, we quantitatively assess marginality across three dimensions—production, livelihood, and ecology—based on panel data from 61 counties for 2000, 2010, and 2021. The entropy-weighted TOPSIS method is used to calculate comprehensive development indices, and geographic detector models identify key driving factors. The results show that production marginality is persistently shaped by economic level and industrial structure. Livelihood marginality exhibits a clear temporal shift: dominant drivers move from healthcare security to cultural amenities and finally to transport accessibility. Ecological marginality remains primarily determined by natural endowments such as habitat quality and ecosystem services. Theoretically, the study advances marginality analysis by integrating spatial, temporal and dimensional perspectives. Practically, it offers a diagnostic framework to support differentiated, cross-administrative governance strategies that can transform peripheral border regions into cooperative hubs.