Research on the symbiosis of port and city based on symbiosis theory: empirical evidence from China's coastal port groups

Abstract

Based on the symbiosis theory, this paper uses symbiosis degree and symbiosis coefficient models to identify the symbiosis mode between the port and the city in China's coastal port groups. 1) From 2010 to 2019, the port development level has generally shown a downward trend, but the overall city development level was rising. The level of port development has also decreased in cities where the city development level has declined or slowed down; 2) Ports and cities exhibit two modes of symbiosis: positive mutualism and reverse competition mutualism. However, the number of cities with positive mutualism is gradually decreasing. 3) Cities that have switched from a symbiosis model to a reverse competition mutualism model are followed by cities that maintain the mutualism symbiosis model with ports. 4) Ports and cities perform in an asymmetric symbiosis mode and the symbiosis mode has gradually shifted from more significant city influences to the port-city influences.