Spatial Variation and Space Optimization of the Development of China’s Circular Economy

Abstract

China＇s circular economy is still at the initial stage, whose development has many difficulties and problems requir- ing immediate resolution theoretically and practically. Due to the differences of regions on the scale of land, endowment of resources, economic basis and cultural background, the devel- opmental levels and capabilities of circular economy are inevi- tably different. Based on establishing the indicator system for assessing the developmental level of regional circular economy, spatial variation of China＇s circular economy is measured by the quantitative measurement using principal component analysis, and the existing problems are also analyzed and discussed. On one hand, the differences of the development capability of the circular economy of different provinces （cities） are profound in China; （!）Difference between the first category （strong） and the second category （relatively strong） is 1.1264 points. Difference between the second category and the third category （relatively weak） is 0.3867 points. Difference between the third category and the fourth category （weak） is 1.0238 points. Differencebetween the tlrst category and the tourtla category reaches up to 2.0869 points. Average difference between the area where the developmental level of circular economy is relatively strong and the area where the developmental level of circular economy is relatively weak is 1.3617 points. （~）The differences of the dis- tribution of the areas, with different development capability of circular economy, which are located in the three economic regions of China, are also profound. The regions with a relatively strong development capability of circular economy are mainly located in the eastern economic area, which account for 22.58% of the whole regions, while only account for 12.90% in the middle and western economic areas. On the contrary, the regions with a relatively weak development capability of circular economy account for 48.39% in the middle and western area, while ac- count for 16.13% in the eastern area. On the other hand, among regions with different development capability of circular econ- omy, the regions with a relatively weak development capability of circular economy are in a dominant position, which accountfor 64.52% of all the provinces （cities）, which indicates that the development of the China＇s circular economy still has a long way to go. Though certain achievements have been made in the development of China＇s circular economy, in general, there are still some obstacles to be tacked in the development of China＇s circular economy which require the economic, legal and administrative methods.