Spatial–temporal differences of industrial land use efficiency and its influencing factors for China’s central region: Analyzed by SBM model

Abstract

The Chinese economy has been experiencing rapid growth since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy. However, it faces problems regarding resource savings and environmental protection, which are important aspects of the new industrialization. To balance these important aspects, we construct an evaluation index system for industrial land use efficiency in 82 prefecture-level cities on the six provinces of Shanxi, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi in the central region of China. We use the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model to analyze the temporal and spatial differences of industrial land use efficiency in the central region from 2003 to 2012. We found that the efficiency of industrial land use in various provinces has been significantly improved in terms of land use scale efficiency, pure technical efficiency or comprehensive technical efficiency, also the advantages of scale effect have been continuously improved. In the past 10 years, the number of cities with industrial land use efficiency reaching a relatively reasonable level has gradually increased; by the analyze of the regression model we learn that the tendency of influencing factors on industrial land use efficiency and its influence mechanism. We also conduct convergence analysis on the difference in industrial land use efficiency among central region provinces, there is a σ convergence before 2009; after 2009, the gap in the efficiency of industrial land use in different cities in the central region has widened over time. Based on our study, some beneficial policy implications and suggestions are provided. • Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model was used to study the industrial land use efficiency of 82 prefecture-level cities in China’s central six provinces. • The convergence of industrial land use efficiency was studied by σ test and the β test. • There is a negative correlation on the scale efficiency of industrial land and fiscal expenditure increase.