Research on the Temporal and Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Forestry Output Efficiency in China

Abstract

Forestry output efficiency is key to forestry development. China is now promoting the development of forestry, and thus the research on forestry output efficiency is of practical significance. Through the data envelopment analysis (DEA)-Malmquist index, spatial autocorrelation model, and fixed effect model of panel data, in this study, we analyzed the forestry output efficiency of China with indicators, such as the fixed asset input, employed personnel, total output value, and timber output, and drew the following conclusions. In the time series, the forestry total-factor productivity (TFP) in China saw a rapid increase, which is attributed to the technological progress change (TC), whereas the efficiency change (EC) imposed negative influences upon the forestry TFP. In the spatial distribution, there was a difference in the increase in the forestry output efficiency among the eastern, central, and western regions of China, with the eastern region having the fastest growth and the central region having the slowest growth. According to the spatial autocorrelation, there was spatial aggregation (high–high (HH) and low–low (LL)) with a significant positive correlation. Through the optimized fixed effect regression model, the fixed asset input, employed personnel, total output value, and timber output all had significant influences on the comprehensive technical efficiency of the forestry output, wherein the input indicators had negative influences, and the output indicators had positive influences.