Isomorphism problem of China’s marine industries: Analysis based on the gray correlation theory

Abstract

This paper investigates the correlation across China’s marine industries and the relationship between marine and land industries in coastal provinces using the Gray Correlation Theory. Our results show an increasing similarity of marine industry structures, a low allocation efficiency of marine resources as well as growing but homogeneous competition between regions. To avoid the problem of “isomorphism” in marine industry, we should focus on policy measures such as optimizing the overall spatial distribution of marine economy, promoting the development of the new marine industry, strengthening the correlation between marine and land industries, building a complementary development pattern for marine economy, expanding new areas for industrial development and fostering new economic growth points.