Spatiotemporal differences and convergence of urban industrial land use efficiency for China’s major economic zones

Abstract

Based on an SBM model, this paper first analyzes the spatial differences of urban industrial land use efficiency (UILUE) in the six main economic zones of China. Then, we analyze the dynamic changes in the urban industrial land's total factor productivity (UILTFP) by using the Malmquist productivity index approach, and we examine the UILTFP's convergence. The results show that the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta have a higher UILUEs but show downward trends in UILTFPs. The other four zones, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengdu-Chongqing, Guanzhong-Tianshui and the Central Plains, show poorer UILUEs but have upward trends in UILTFPs. A significant excess supply of industrial land and labor exists in all six zones, and the zones in economically developed areas perform better in industrial output. The results of the convergence test do not support σ-convergence but support conditional β-convergence for all zones. These results indicate that the gaps in the UILTFP of industrial land in all six zones, in fact, do not narrow, and the UILTFPs of cities will converge to their own steady states. The regression results of the influencing factors show that the urbanization rate should be increased in the Pearl River Delta and reduced in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. The Yangtze River Delta and Chengdu-Chongqing should pay more attention to the problem of industrial labor surplus, and the Pearl River Delta should reduce the proportion of industrial output. All zones should focus on improving the quality of the industrial economy and the land use intensity.

Measuring the Total-Factor Carbon Emission Performance of Industrial Land Use in China Based on the Global Directional Distance Function and Non-Radial Luenberger Productivity Index

“…Therefore, strengthening environmental regulations on local governments and enterprises, developing low carbon industries and promoting the use of clean energy would be helpful to improve the NLCPIL. This is consistent with the findings of Xie et al [9].…”

“…Therefore, the regional gaps in TCPIL seem to be narrowing, which is helpful for realizing the balanced and sustainable utilization of industrial lands in China. This is consistent with the findings of Xie et al, which reached a similar conclusion at both the provincial and city levels [9].…”

“…According to the China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook, industrial land refers to land for industrial production in built-up urban areas including factories and workshops [5][6][7][8][9]. As an important input in the industrial production process, the amount of industrial land consumption has shown an obvious increasing trend in recent years.…”

Measuring the Cultivated Land Use Efficiency of the Main Grain-Producing Areas in China under the Constraints of Carbon Emissions and Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution

“…Many scholars have conducted a convergence analysis of efficiency values; for example, Xie analyzed the convergence of TFP of industrial land in China's six major economic zones. The study found that each economic zone converged to its own steady-state level [30]. Li analyzed the convergence of the TFP of agriculture from 1985 to 2005 and found that China's agricultural productivity has convergence [31].…”

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“…Most industrial enterprises are labor-intensive and engaged in low-tech production activities because of cheap labor. This inevitably impedes the large-scale use of new technologies and industrial upgrading, and negatively affects the PIGD [37]. Further, many studies suggested that China had entered a middle or late stage of industrialization, which implyies that China's industrial development will shift from a simple emphasis on economic output to improvements in the quality of industrial development [38].…”