Abstract
Water resources management (WRM) is a global strategic issue. Effectively evaluating WRM performance and analyzing its influencing factors have strong practical significance for improving regional WRM performance. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is one of the most popular models to measure the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs). Taking regional WRM performance as efficiency DMUs, this paper proposes the indicator system to quantify WRM performance from the perspectives of resource endowments, economic and technological development, and ecosystem protection. The WRM performance of 31 provincial administrative regions in mainland China from 2013 to 2019 are measured, and the temporal and spatial changes are explored using the window DEA model and the Malmquist index model. Finally, the Tobit model is used to quantitatively analyze the affecting factors. The results indicate that: (1) in 2015 and 2019, WRM performance of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Guangxi were slightly higher than that in other years, and the areas with more room for WRM performance improvements were areas with abundant water resources; (2) from 2013 to 2019, China’s overall WRM performance showed a slow rise, and there were obvious fluctuations in 2018; (3) the improvement in WRM performance was primarily the result of an improvement to comprehensive technical efficiency changes (EC), whereas technological progress changes (TC) have largely restricted China’s WRM performance; (4) the main influencing factors of WRM performance in China were as follows: industrial development level, water resources utilization rate, and urban sewage discharge per capita.
Highlights
Under the realistic background of uneven temporal and spatial distributions, pollution, and overexploitation of water resources systems, the effective management of water resources is an urgent need [1]
The current study focuses on the following aspects: (1) to define the connotation of water resources management (WRM) from multiple perspectives and establish an indicator system ; (2) to introduce a practical evaluating method of management combining the window Data envelopment analysis (DEA) model with the Malmquist index model into the evaluation of WRM performance; (3) to calculate the temporal and spatial changes in the WRM performance of
Unilateral water GDP output reflects the economic benefits of water use; water-saving irrigation rate reflects the agricultural benefits of water use; water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value reflects the industrial benefits of water use; water penetration rate reflects the living benefits of water use
Summary
Under the realistic background of uneven temporal and spatial distributions, pollution, and overexploitation of water resources systems, the effective management of water resources is an urgent need [1]. The scarcity of water resources in the future highlights the importance of water resources management (WRM) in the economically vigorous region, which is highly industrialized and densely populated [5]. In order to strengthen water security in the context of increasing water demand and shortages [6,7,8], regional governments need to improve their WRM performance. Human factors, such as the capital investment in management and the manager’s overall planning ability and risk awareness, have a great influence on WRM [9]. Scientifically evaluating WRM performance and analyzing the influencing factors was always the pursuit of government personnel and scientific researchers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
