PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (8): 1006-1014.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2017.08.009

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial differentiation and change of green production efficiency in China

Xueying MU(), Kai LIU, Jianlan REN*()   

  1. School of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
  • Online:2017-08-31 Published:2017-08-28
  • Contact: Jianlan REN E-mail:muxueying823@sina.com;renjianlan@sina.com
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41571525;Major Projects Supported by Social Sciences of Shandong Province, No.16AWTJ05

Abstract:

Evaluating green production efficiency has become an important way to examine the feasibility of China's ecological civilization construction and economic transformation. Based on the concepts of coordinated human-environment development and process and pattern-oriented evaluation, this study established an input-output index for measuring green production efficiency. Using data envelopment analysis method, we measured the efficiency of green production of 30 Chinese provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) between 2005 and 2014. Using entropy, Gini coefficient, exploratory spatial data analysis, combined with ArcGIS and Geoda software, we explored the divergence and spatiotemporal change of green production efficiency in China from 2005 to 2014. The results indicate that: (1) The efficiency of green production in China showed an upward trend in 2005-2014, shifting from large gap at an overall low level to small gap at an overall high level. (2) The efficiency of green production in the four main regions of China during the 10 years showed the following spatial characteristics: the efficiency of green production in the eastern region > Northeast region > central region > western region. (3) The efficiency of green production in China presented a "three steps" spatial pattern, that is, high in the east and low in the west. (4) The green production efficiency value of each province (municipality, autonomous region) was similar to that of the neighboring areas, and showed certain spatial agglomeration characteristics. (5) The basis of economic development and differentiation in resources, environment, and regional policies are the main factors influencing regional differences in green production efficiency.

Key words: green production efficiency, spatial differentiation, spatiotemporal pattern, data envelopment analysis (DEA), China