PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2018, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (8): 1150-1158.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2018.08.014

• Articles • Previous Articles    

Regional difference and determinants of human well-being in China: Based on the analysis of human development index

Shengyun WANG1,2(), Yuting LUO2, Yajie HAN3, Jing LI1,2,*()   

  1. 1. Research Center of Central China Economic and Social Development, Nanchang 330047, China
    2. School of Economics and Management, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
    3. School of Tourism, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
  • Received:2017-09-29 Revised:2018-02-12 Online:2018-09-04 Published:2018-09-04
  • Contact: Jing LI E-mail:wangshengyun@163.com;sdu_lijing@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Projects of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education of China, No.18YJA790082;Graduate Course Construction Project of Nanchang University, No.cx2015084

Abstract:

The problem of regional unbalanced development emerges while human well-being is improving. Using the Gini coefficient, Theil index, and regression analysis method, this study analyzed the regional difference in change and determinants of human well-being in China from 1995 to 2013. It revealed that: (1) The inter-provincial difference of human well-being shows a converging trend and is getting smaller in China from 1995 to 2013. In the 9th Five Year Plan period it kept narrowing and in the 10th Five Year Plan period it showed some fluctuations. In the 11th Five Year Plan period it decreased rapidly and in the 12th Five Year Plan period it had a development trend of convergence; (2) From 1995 to 2013, the difference between the four regions is the main difference of human well-being in China, but its contribution rate shows a decreasing trend as a whole. The contribution rate of inter-provincial difference of human well-being is increasing in the four regions. The west region had the biggest inter-provincial difference of human well-being but has decreased significantly. The inter-provincial difference of human well-being enlarged at first and then narrowed in the east region. The central and the Northeast region showed smaller inter-provincial differences of human well-being and had a narrowing trend; (3) Increasing economic development and educational expenditure can improve the provincial human well-being but also will expand the difference of human well-being. The growth of the ratio of health care expenditure in finance will decrease the human well-being, but can narrow the difference of human well-being. Social security expenditure and transfers per capita are effective ways to improve provincial human well-being, but also narrow the difference of human well-being.

Key words: human well-being, regional difference, determinants, Gini coefficient, Theil coefficient, China