Search Results (85)

As an important direction in industrial evolution, the synergistic agglomeration of manufacturing and productive service industries has become a key path to promote the green transformation of the economy. Based on China’s provincial panel data, this study utilizes a variety of econometric methods to explore in depth the mechanisms, spatial effects and regional differences in the impact of the synergistic agglomeration of manufacturing and productive service industries on the green, low-carbon and recycling development of the economy. The empirical results show that the synergistic agglomeration of manufacturing and productive services not only directly promotes the green, low-carbon and recycling development of the economy, but also generates an indirect impact through the intermediary channel and exhibits significant spillover characteristics in the spatial dimension. This conclusion holds firm after a series of robustness tests. In addition, environmental regulations and the level of regional industrialization play a moderating role on the impact of industrial synergistic agglomeration and green, low-carbon and recycling development of the economy, and the effect of the role varies across regions and levels of economic development. This paper provides a decision-making reference for further optimizing the regional layout of China’s industries and enhancing the green, low-carbon and recycling development of the economy in each province. Full article

Research on ecosystem carbon sequestration services and ecological compensation is crucial for advancing carbon neutrality. As a public good, ecosystem carbon sequestration services inherently lead to externalities. Therefore, it is essential to consider externalities in the flow of sequestration services. However, few studies have examined intra- and inter-regional ecosystem carbon sequestration flows, making regional ecosystem carbon sequestration flows less comprehensive. Against this background, the research objectives of this paper are as follows. The flow of carbon sequestration services between Henan Province and out-of-province regions is studied. In addition, this study clarifies the beneficiary and supply areas of carbon sink services in Henan Province and the neighboring regions at the prefecture-level city scale to obtain a more systematic, comprehensive, and actual flow of carbon sequestration services for scientific and effective eco-compensation and to promote regional synergistic emission reductions. The research methodologies used in this paper are as follows. First, this study adopts a meta-coupling framework, designating Henan Province as the focal system, the Central Urban Agglomeration as the adjacent system, and eight surrounding provinces as remote systems. Regional carbon sequestration was assessed using net primary productivity (NEP), while carbon emissions were evaluated based on per capita carbon emissions and population density. A carbon balance analysis integrated carbon sequestration and emissions. Hotspot analysis identified areas of carbon sequestration service supply and associated benefits. Ecological radiation force formulas were used to quantify service flows, and compensation values were estimated considering the government’s payment capacity and willingness. A three-dimensional evaluation system—incorporating technology, talent, and fiscal capacity—was developed to propose a diversified ecological compensation scheme by comparing supply and beneficiary areas. By modeling the ecosystem carbon sequestration service flow, the main results of this paper are as follows: (1) Within Henan Province, Luoyang and Nanyang provided 521,300 tons and 515,600 tons of carbon sinks to eight cities (e.g., Jiaozuo, Zhengzhou, and Kaifeng), warranting an ecological compensation of CNY 262.817 million and CNY 263.259 million, respectively. (2) Henan exported 3.0739 million tons of carbon sinks to external provinces, corresponding to a compensation value of CNY 1756.079 million. Conversely, regions such as Changzhi, Xiangyang, and Jinzhong contributed 657,200 tons of carbon sinks to Henan, requiring a compensation of CNY 189.921 million. (3) Henan thus achieved a net ecological compensation of CNY 1566.158 million through carbon sink flows. (4) In addition to monetary compensation, beneficiary areas may also contribute through technology transfer, financial investment, and talent support. The findings support the following conclusions: (1) it is necessary to consider the externalities of ecosystem services, and (2) the meta-coupling framework enables a comprehensive assessment of carbon sequestration service flows, providing actionable insights for improving ecosystem governance in Henan Province and comparable regions. Full article

Amid global efforts to balance sustainable development and food security, ecosystem service value (ESV), a critical bridge between natural systems and human well-being, has gained increasing importance. This study explores the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of land use changes and ESV from a food security perspective, aiming to inform synergies between ecological protection and food production for regional sustainability. Using Guangdong Province as a case study, we analyze ESV patterns and spatial correlations from 2005 to 2023 based on three-phase land use and socioeconomic datasets. Key findings: I. Forestland and cropland dominate Guangdong’s land use, which is marked by the expansion of construction land and the shrinking of agricultural and forest areas. II. Overall ESV declined slightly: northern ecological zones remained stable, while eastern/western regions saw mild decreases, with cropland loss threatening grain self-sufficiency. III. Irrigation scale, forestry output, and fertilizer use exhibited strong interactive effects on ESV, whereas urban hierarchy influenced ESV independently. IV. ESV showed significant positive spatial autocorrelation, with stable agglomeration patterns across the province. The research provides policy insights for optimizing cropland protection and enhancing coordination between food production spaces and ecosystem services, while offering theoretical support for land use regulation and agricultural resilience in addressing regional food security challenges. Full article

The digital economy has profoundly reshaped industrial organizational structures and the spatial distribution of cooperative agglomerations in the manufacturing and productive service sectors. To support the coordinated and sustainable development of China’s industries, it is essential to clarify how the digital economy influences industrial cooperative agglomeration. This study first constructs a comprehensive index system capturing the quality, quantity, and synergy of industrial cooperative agglomeration, enabling an evaluation of collaborative agglomeration levels across 30 Chinese provinces. Second, the relationship between the digital economy and industrial collaborative agglomeration is examined using both static and dynamic spatial panel models. Finally, the paper investigates regional disparities in this relationship across eastern, central, and western China. The results reveal the following findings: (1) The digital economy has a significant inhibitory effect on industrial collaborative agglomeration overall. (2) Dynamic spatial lag model results show an inverted U-shaped relationship, where the digital economy initially promotes but later inhibits industrial agglomeration, with notable temporal lags and spatial spillover effects. (3) In eastern China, digital economy growth suppresses local agglomeration while promoting it in neighboring regions; in the central region, it enhances local agglomeration but dampens it in adjacent areas; and in the western region, the relationship is nonlinear and U-shaped. Full article

In the new paradigm where the digital economy is profoundly reshaping urban spatial organization, how the platform economy transcends traditional geographical constraints to restructure the urban system has become a strategic issue in urban geography and regional economics. This study develops an innovative measurement framework based on Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce enterprises to analyze platform-driven urban systems across 337 Chinese cities. Using spatial autocorrelation, rank-size distributions, and urban scaling laws, we reveal spatial differentiation patterns of cities’ B2B platforms. Combining Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and random forest models with Partial Dependence Plots (PDP), Individual Conditional Expectations (ICE), and Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing (LOWESS), we uncover non-linear mechanisms between platform development and urban attributes. Results indicate that (1) B2B platforms exhibit “superliner agglomeration” and “gradient locking”, reinforcing advantages in top-tier cities; (2) platform effects are non-linear, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Information Technology (IT) employment, and service sector shares showing threshold-enhanced marginal effects, while manufacturing bases display saturation effects; and (3) regional divergence exists, with eastern consumer-oriented platforms forming digital synergies, while western manufacturing platforms face path dependence. The findings highlight that platform economy evolution is shaped by a “threshold–adaptation–differentiation” mechanism rather than neutral diffusion. This study provides new insights into urban system restructuring under digital transformation. Full article

This study focuses on 67 counties in Guangdong Province, China, and investigates the spatial distribution patterns, regional differentiation characteristics, and functional zoning of rural areas based on the “Production–Living–Ecological” (PLE) functional synergy theoretical framework. Multiple quantitative methods, including the entropy method, spatial concentration degree, and functional identification, were employed. Key findings include: (1) Rural functions in Guangdong exhibit significant heterogeneous evolution. Production functions have generally weakened, showing a spatial pattern of “consolidation in the south and decline in the north”. Ecological functions demonstrate a U-shaped recovery trend, with high-value areas concentrating around the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration, indicating effective ecological protection policies. Living functions continue to decline due to population mobility and imbalanced public services. (2) Structural transformation of rural function types occurred: Weakly integrated counties decreased (2010–2019), dual function type counties (production–ecological and living–ecological) significantly increased, and ecology-dominant counties predominated, highlighting ecological polarization under policy interventions. (3) Functional evolution is driven by terrain gradients, policy regulation, and industrial relocation. The research provides empirical evidence for optimizing territorial spatial governance and coordinating urban–rural development. Recommendations include promoting dynamic PLE balance through high-standard farmland construction, ecological industrialization cultivation, and cross-regional compensation mechanisms to facilitate rural revitalization and sustainable development. Full article

This study investigates the impact of industrial agglomeration on the upgrading of China’s automobile industry (UCAI) using panel data from 28 Chinese provinces spanning 2000 to 2020. The automobile industry is vital to China’s manufacturing and service sectors, with its upgrading capable of driving national economic growth and contributing to sustainable development goals. We employ the Malmquist productivity index based on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method, implemented through DEAP 2.1 software, to assess the UCAI. System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) analysis, conducted using Stata 17 software, was used to examine the impact of industrial agglomeration on this process, while also exploring the threshold effect of human capital and the moderating effect of government. The results indicate that industrial agglomeration significantly enhances the upgrading of the automobile industry; however, human capital acts as a critical threshold. Below this threshold, agglomeration does not have a significant impact on the upgrading of the automobile industry, while exceeding it allows for significant positive effects. Additionally, government has a moderating effect in facilitating this process by implementing policies that support innovation and sustainable practices. Based on these findings, this paper presents several policy implications aimed at further promoting the UCAI and advancing sustainable development in the sector. Full article

This study incorporated ecological footprint (EF) consumption into a framework to assess ecological well-being. A model and implementation framework for characterizing regional net ecological well-being were then developed. Using the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration (GPUA) as a case study, land use data from 2000 to 2020 were utilized to calculate the ecosystem service value (ESV), representing the supply side of regional ecological functions. Simultaneously, the regional EF consumption was assessed as the demand side. Taking into account the level of regional economic development and the characteristics of people’s living, a regional net ecological well-being evaluation model was constructed to arrive at a deficit or surplus ecological situation. The results indicated that: (1) The overall ESV of the GPUA follows a trend of initial growth followed by a decline. Woodland, grassland, and farmland are the main contributors to the total ESV, with regulating and supporting services accounting for more than 80% of the total ecosystem value. (2) EF consumption in the GPUA shows a significant upward trend, increasing by over 70% on average. The level of ecological carrying capacity has slightly increased, with the biologically productive area that can support human activities expanding to 1909.49 million hectares. Additionally, the carrying capacity of the urban agglomeration cities has tended to stabilize since 2015. (3) Since 2010, anthropogenic consumption in the GPUA has continued to exceed the regional ecological capacity, resulting in an ecological well-being deficit. The average ecological well-being compensation per hectare in the urban agglomeration increased from 35.588 CNY to 187.110 CNY. This study offers a theoretical foundation for expanding the definition and research framework of regional ecological well-being by providing a more accurate assessment of regional ecological service supply and consumption at multiple scales. It is expected that this approach will help reduce the opportunity costs associated with ecological protection, while promoting a balanced approach to economic development and ecological preservation. Full article

Equilibrating the supply and demand for ecosystem services (ESs) is essential for sustainable development. Nonetheless, elements like policy modifications, land utilization, and climate change are profoundly transforming the dynamics of ecosystem service supply and demand (ESSD). As a result, there is an imperative necessity to methodically evaluate and predict these alterations by including both social and environmental elements. This study utilized the Henan region of the Yellow River Basin (HYRB) as a case study to forecast alterations in the supply and demand for three ESs—water production (WY), carbon storage (CS), and food production (FP)—under three scenarios for 2030 and 2050, grounded in the SSP-RCP framework. We further evaluated the supply–demand equilibrium at both grid and county degrees. The results indicate the following key findings: (1) From 2020 to 2050, there are significant spatial differences in the supply and demand of these services. While the supply of CS and FP exceeds demand, the supply of WY falls short. (2) The supply–demand ratios for WY and CS are projected to decline under all scenarios, whereas FP is expected to continue growing. Surplus areas for WY and CS are aggregated in the northwest, southwest, and central areas, while FP surpluses are found in the eastern and northern plains. Deficits for all three services are primarily located in urban areas. (3) The dominant spatial patterns of supply–demand matching also vary. WY and CS exhibit high–low agglomeration patterns, particularly in the northwest and southwest mountain regions, while FP shows low–low agglomeration, mainly in the southwest and northwest mountain areas. These findings enhance comprehension of the dynamics of ESSD, serving as a foundation for environmental preservation and sustainable advancement in the Yellow River Basin, China. Full article

Exploring the relationship between park green spaces and urban functional spaces provides valuable insights into the production of organically integrated urban spaces that combine production, living, and ecological functions. It also offers guidance for urban spatial structure adjustments and supports the development of park-centered cities. Recent studies have demonstrated that park green spaces offer significant ecological and social benefits; however, evaluations have mostly focused on specific indicators of park green spaces, lacking a detailed and comprehensive assessment. Therefore, this study aims to combine multi-source data and various indicators using methods such as spatial profile analysis and geographical detectors to assess the effectiveness of park green spaces in influencing urban clustering. Firstly, it was determined that both park green spaces and urban single and integrated functional spaces in Hangzhou exhibit clustering distribution. Secondly, by measuring the impact of 12 park green spaces on the clustering of urban functional spaces, specific results were obtained. It was found that there are significant differences in the impact effectiveness across different park green spaces. Thirdly, exploring the factors influencing the agglomeration effect of park green spaces on urban functional spaces reveals that transportation, public services and administration, and residential, commercial, and industrial production functions around parks all influence this effect, albeit with diminishing strength in that order. Interaction between any of these functions further enhances the influence, and the introduction of vitality factors helps eliminate potential misjudgments caused by “ghost city” phenomena. Additionally, park characteristics, such as area, service range, and accessibility, all significantly impact the agglomeration effectiveness of urban functional spaces, with the influence further amplified by the interactions between these characteristics. Finally, directions for future research and planning insights are summarized. Full article

Jiangsu province’s forestry industry offers valuable insights for resource-poor regions in China. This study aims to determine the competitiveness of different forestry sectors in Jiangsu province and identify the industrial structural changes in this context. The shift-share method is employed to analyze the primary, secondary, and tertiary forestry industries, encompassing 17 sub-sectors, and investigate the industrial regional types. By combining location quotient values and inter-sector characteristics, the leading sectors are identified. The findings reveal that the Kuznets facts and the Engel effect in the industry structure have facilitated the process of increasing the value of ecological products; this is particularly evident between 2002 and 2018, as well as in 2021. Within the primary forestry industry, the Flower cultivation sector and the Economic forest product sector emerge as the leading sectors, outperforming the national growth effect by 7.18 and 1.02 times, respectively. In the secondary forestry industry, the Wood processing sector, the Furniture manufacturing sector, the Wood paper-making sector, and the Non-timber forest product sector mostly show the Progressive types as the leading sectors from 2006 to 2020. The tertiary industry’s regional types fluctuate from the Progressive type to the Medium type, with the Forestry tourism sector, the Ecological service sector, and the Non-forestry service sector displaying leading industry characteristics. Recommendations for enhancing inter-sector integration include fostering collaborative agglomeration, unlocking the potential value of wetland resources, and strengthening cross-industry integration through e-commerce clusters to improve the forester’s e-commerce operational capabilities. Full article

The impact of industrial co-agglomeration (ICA) on green total factor productivity (GTFP) has garnered considerable academic attention. However, there remains a gap in research systematically investigating how ICA affects China’s GTFP within the framework of green development, specifically by analyzing transmission mechanisms, regulatory mechanisms, and spatial spillover effects. To address this gap, this study utilizes panel data from 283 Chinese cities, spanning the years 2006 to 2020, and conducts both theoretical and empirical analyses to examine ICA’s influence on GTFP through these three mechanisms. Our findings indicate that ICA significantly enhances GTFP by alleviating the mismatch of capital and energy factors but does not improve GTFP by addressing labor mismatches. Furthermore, when the intensity of local government competition exceeds a threshold of 14.3825, the positive impact of ICA diminishes, whereas an environmental regulation intensity above 0.4381 strengthens ICA’s positive effect on GTFP. ICA was found to substantially increase local GTFP and generate positive spatial spillover effects on surrounding cities within a 100 km radius. Co-agglomeration of both high-end and low-end producer services with manufacturing boosts local GTFP, while co-agglomeration of low-end producer services with manufacturing also enhances GTFP in adjacent cities. In megacities, ICA positively influences both local and nearby GTFP, whereas in large cities, ICA tends to suppress GTFP in neighboring areas. Additionally, with the exception of the Middle Yangtze River and Pearl River Delta city clusters, ICA in urban clusters enhances local GTFP; ICA in the Middle Yangtze River cluster promotes GTFP in neighboring areas, whereas ICA in the Chengdu–Chongqing cluster inhibits neighboring GTFP. Full article

Understanding the flow processes and pattern optimization of ecosystem services (ESs) supply and demand is crucial for integrated regional ecological management. However, the understanding of the flow process of ESs at the 1 km grid scale is still limited, especially in areas dominated by mineral resource development. The landscape in these areas has undergone significant changes due to mining activities. It is urgent to construct a regional management model that integrates the flow of ecosystem services and mine restoration. This study developed a framework that links ecosystem service flows (ESFs) and ecological security patterns (ESP) based on multi-source ecological monitoring data, constructed an ES supply-demand flow network through the flow properties, and determined the sequence and optimization strategies for mine rehabilitation to achieve integrated regional management. The results show that, except for food production (FP), other services were in surplus overall, mostly in synergistic relationships, but the spatial distribution of their supply and demand was not coordinated. Surplus areas were located mainly in the eastern woodlands, and deficit areas were located in the northwestern production agglomeration centers, suggesting that areas of supply-demand imbalance can be mitigated through ecological integration. Among these, water yield (WY) had a small number of sources and sinks and is limited in area range. Habitat quality (HQ) sources and sinks had the largest area coverage and the highest number. The distribution of ESF corridors, influenced by factors such as the number of sources and sinks, flow characteristics, and spatial resistance, varied significantly. HQ exhibited a more uniform distribution range, while WY had a longer average length of flow path. Overlaying ecological and mining factors, we identified ecological strategic spots, important supply areas, beneficiary areas, and mine priority restoration areas to further optimize the overall layout and rationally allocate the intrinsic structure of the patches based on ES supply and demand. Full article

The contradiction between ecological resource protection and urban sprawl in urban agglomeration areas is becoming more and more prominent, facing a serious imbalance between the supply and demand of ecosystem services. To analyze the impact of urban agglomeration expansion on regional ecosystem services, based on multi-source data, an assessment model of supply and demand of ecosystem services for water conservation, carbon sequestration, soil conservation and crop production was constructed. With the help of value transformation model and spatial analysis method, this paper explores the risk of ecosystem service supply and demand imbalance faced by the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in the process of expansion. This study found that the supply capacity of ecosystem services in the YRDUA has continued to decline at the spatial pixel scale; ecosystem service value deficits are a common problem in the YRDUA, with cities around Taihu Lake, such as Shanghai and Suzhou, being the most serious; the value surplus areas are concentrated in the southern cities, such as Xuancheng and Chizhou, but the balance between the supply of and demand for ecosystem services in these cities is also facing a challenge as the cities are expanding. This study analyzed the spatial pattern changes in the Yangtze River Delta region in the context of urban sprawl from the perspective of ecosystem service supply and demand, which helps to clarify the changing ecosystem service dynamics of the region and guide the formulation of urban planning policies and to achieve a balance between ecological supply and demand as well as sustainable development. Full article

Agricultural service trade is closely related to the promotion of the sustainable development of China’s agriculture and is necessary for comprehensive rural revitalization. To clarify the relationship between trade in agricultural services and agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) from a macroscopic perspective and then analyze the acting path and threshold effect, can provide an important reference for improving agriculture’s green level and realizing the sustainable development of agriculture. This paper uses the provincial panel data of China from 2007 to 2022 to measure agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) using the SBM-GML model and explores the impact of agricultural service trade on AGTFP with the help of the fixed effect model, the mediation effect model, and the threshold model. According to this study: (1) Trade in agricultural services can significantly increase AGTFP. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that trade in agricultural services can promote AGTFP through promoting industrial agglomeration, enhancing technological innovation, and improving factor allocation. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that trade in agricultural services has a more obvious role in promoting AGTFP in the eastern region and the main grain marketing area. (4) The threshold effect finds that the promotion of agricultural services trade on AGTFP will gradually increase as the level of government support rises. Therefore, China should actively promote the development of agricultural service trade, implement the concept of sustainable development, improve the level of government support, and promote the improvement in agricultural total factor productivity and sustainable development. Full article