High-Quality Development Evaluation and Spatial Evolution Analysis of Urban Agglomerations in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River

Abstract

Urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is key to the rise of central China, and an important engine for the high-quality development of the Yangtze River economic belt. Research on urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River focuses mainly on economic development, ecological environment, and innovation. Few studies focus on evaluation combining development levels. This study uses the entropy weight TOPSIS method to build an urban high-quality development level indicator system with “innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing” as the indicators, comprehensively measuring the high-quality development level of 31 cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River from 2010 to 2019 and analyzing the evolution of spatial distribution and autocorrelation. The results show that the high-quality development level of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River varies greatly, and fluctuations are significant. The spatial distribution also shows an evolution from belt-shaped agglomeration to point-shaped diffusion distribution, and the spatial autocorrelation shows a negative correlation. Finally, this paper proposes suggestions to promote high-quality development from three aspects: system coordination, industry coordination, and sustainability.

Measurement and Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of High-Quality Development Efficiency in Metropolitan Areas: A Case Study of the Changchun Metropolitan Area

“…For instance, Li et al proposed connotation of HQD of city clusters based on the basic comprehension of Chinese-style modernization and measured the HQD of 19 city clusters by using the entropy weight CRITIC method [9]. Xie et al uses the entropy weight TOPSIS method to build an urban HQD level indicator system, comprehensively measuring the high-quality development level of 31 cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and analyzing the evolution of spatial distribution and autocorrelation [44]. Tu et al assessed the HQD level of the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration from the perspective of spatial structure, scale, and urban connection [45].…”

Spatial Morphological Characteristics and Evolution of Policy-Oriented Urban Agglomerations—Take the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration as an Example

“…The YRMRUA's level is currently recognized as national [19], it is situated in the central region of China, and it serves as a pivotal location within the Yangtze River Economic Belt [20,21]. With its natural waterway, it provides convenient access to the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration and the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration.…”

Effects of Transfer of Land Development Rights on Urban–Rural Integration: Theoretical Framework and Evidence from Chongqing, China

“…The urban-rural integration index is considered a dependent variable. Based on the connotation of urban-rural integration discussed above and previous studies analyzing the influencing mechanism of urban-rural integration [76][77][78][79], an evaluation indicator system has been established following the principles of integrity, scientific nature, and feasibility. Fully considering data availability and validity, three indicators were selected to measure the urban-rural integration level in various counties and regions in Chongqing, namely economic integration, population integration, and social integration.…”