Spatial Correlation of Water Innovation Efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Abstract

Based on the input and output data of the 11 provinces and cities in the 2006-2016 Yangtze River Economic Belt, the article selects R&D personnel’s full-time equivalent nuclear R&D research expenditure as the input index, selects the number of patent grants as an indicator of acceptable output, water consumption and wastewater discharge. As a non-conforming output indicator, the EBM model considering undesired output is used to measure the water innovation efficiency of each province and city, and calculate the global Moran’I index value, and draw the Moran index map for 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2016. It is found that water use efficiency is generally on the rise, and there is significant spatial autocorrelation between regions. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been at the frontier level of efficiency and have the positive correlation. Chongqing and Guizhou have negative correlations with neighboring provinces and cities. In order to more effectively improve the water innovation efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, in addition to paying attention to the development of the province and the city itself, it is also necessary to pay attention to the radiation belt actions of neighboring provinces and cities, and formulate differentiated water management measures.