Nighttime light data‐based analysis of spatiotemporal patterns evolution and driving forces of economic development in China at prefecture level (1992–2020)

Abstract

Intercity lighting data are an important resource for studying spatial and temporal patterns in regional urban development as an indicator of the intensity of urban social and economic activity. Understanding the evolutionary characteristics of the spatial pattern of regional economic development can support decision-making in regional economic coordination and sustainable development strategies. Based on a long time series of nighttime lighting data from 1992 to 2020, this study used the Theil index, Markoff transfer matrix, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial regression to analyze spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics and drivers of urban economic development in China. The study found