This paper adopts a network data envelopment analysis (DEA) model combined with a window analysis approach to evaluate the ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) of 30 regions in China over 2000–2015. We also investigate the existence of eco-efficiency convergence clubs among these regions and analyse the important factors that drive eco-efficiency club formation. Our results reveal that, overall, Chinese regional eco-efficiency deteriorated from 2000 to 2015. We find that there is a significant regional disparity in eco-efficiency. Our convergence analysis indicates that Chinese regions converge into three eco-efficiency clubs, suggesting that common economic and environment policies might have a limited impact on promoting regional eco-efficiency and regionally-tailored policies need to be designed. Finally, we find that forest coverage, R&D expenditure and pollution punishment are important determinants of convergence club membership.

REFERENCES

Asmild, M., Paradi, J. C., Aggarwall, V., & Schaffnit, C. (2004). Combining DEA window analysis with the Malmquist index approach in a study of the Canadian banking industry. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 21, 67–89.
10.1023/B:PROD.0000012453.91326.ec
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Banker, R. D., Charnes, A., & Cooper, W. W. (1984). Some models for estimating technical and scale inefficiencies in data envelopment analysis. Management Science, 30, 1078–1092.
10.1287/mnsc.30.9.1078
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Charnes, A., Clarke, C., Cooper, W. W., & Golany, B. (1985). A development study of DEA in measuring the effect of maintenance units in the U. S. Air Force. Annals of Operations Research, 2, 95–112.
10.1007/BF01874734
Google Scholar
Charnes, A., Cooper, W. W., & Seiford, L. M. (1994). Extension to DEA models. In A. Charnes, W. W. Cooper, A. Y. Lewin, & L. M. Seiford (Eds.), Data envelopment analysis: Theory, methodology and applications (pp. 49–61). London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
10.1007/978-94-011-0637-5_3
Google Scholar
Chen, S., & Golley, J. (2014). Green’ productivity growth in China's industrial economy. Energy Economics, 44, 89–98.
10.1016/j.eneco.2014.04.002
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Chen, Y., Du, J., Sherman, H. D., & Zhu, J. (2010). DEA model with shared resources and efficiency decomposition. European Journal of Operational Research, 207(1), 339–349.
10.1016/j.ejor.2010.03.031
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Chu, J., Wu, J., Zhu, Q., An, Q., & Xiong, B. (2016). Analysis of China's regional eco-efficiency: A DEA two-stage network approach with equitable efficiency decomposition. Computational Economics, 1, 1–23.
Google Scholar
Cooper, W. W., Li, S., Seiford, L. M., Tone, K., Thrall, R. M., & Zhu, J. (2001). Sensitivity and stability analysis in DEA: Some recent developments. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 16, 31–47.
10.1023/A:1011147118637
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Cooper, W. W., Seiford, L. M., & Tone, K. (2007). Data envelopment analysis: A comprehensive text with models, applications, References and DEA-solver software. New York, NY: Springer Science.
10.1007/978-0-387-45283-8
Google Scholar
Dai, Z., Guo, L., & Jiang, Z. (2016). Study on the industrial eco-efficiency in East China based on the super efficiency DEA model: An example of the 2003–2013 panel data. Applied Economics, 48, 5779–5785.
10.1080/00036846.2016.1184380
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Dyckhoff, H., & Allen, K. (2001). Measuring ecological efficiency with data envelopment analysis. European Journal of Operational Research, 132, 312–325.
10.1016/S0377-2217(00)00154-5
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Kao, C., & Hwang, S. N. (2008). Efficiency decomposition in two-stage data envelopment analysis: An application to non-life insurance companies in Taiwan. European Journal of Operational Research, 185(1), 418–429.
10.1016/j.ejor.2006.11.041
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Kuosmanen, T. (2005). Measurement and analysis of eco-efficiency: An Economist's perspective. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 9(4), 15–18.
10.1162/108819805775248025
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Kuosmanen, T., & Kortelainen, M. (2005). Measuring eco-efficiency of production with data envelopment analysis. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 9, 59–72.
10.1162/108819805775247846
CASWeb of Science®Google Scholar
Liang, L., Cook, W. D., & Zhu, J. (2008). DEA models for two-stage processes: Game approach and efficiency decomposition. Naval Research Logistics (NRL), 55(7), 643–653.
10.1002/nav.20308
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Mickwitz, P., Melanen, M., Rosenström, U., & Seppälä, J. (2006). Regional eco-efficiency indicators: a participatory approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14, 1603–1611.
10.1016/j.jclepro.2005.05.025
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Phillips, P. C., & Sul, D. (2007). Transition modelling and econometric convergence tests. Econometrica, 75, 1771–1855.
10.1111/j.1468-0262.2007.00811.x
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Phillips, P. C., & Sul, D. (2009). Economic transition and growth. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 24, 1153–1185.
10.1002/jae.1080
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Picazo-Tadeo, A. J., Beltrán-Esteve, M., & Gómez-Limón, J. A. (2012). Assessing eco-efficiency with directional distance functions. European Journal of Operational Research, 220(3), 798–809.
10.1016/j.ejor.2012.02.025
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Schaltegger, S., & Sturm, A. (1990). Ökologische rationalität. Die Unternehmung, 4, 273–290.
Google Scholar
Schmidheiny, S. (1992). Changing course: A global business perspective on development and the environment. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Tulkens, H., & Eeckaut, P. V. (1995). Non-parametric efficiency, progress and regress measures for panel data: Methodological aspects. European Journal of Operational Research, 80, 474–499.
10.1016/0377-2217(94)00132-V
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Yang, W., Jin, F. J., Wang, C. J., & Lv, C. (2012). Industrial eco-efficiency and its spatial-temporal differentiation in China. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 6(4), 559–568.
10.1007/s11783-012-0400-4
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Yin, K., Wang, R. S., An, Q. X., Yao, L., & Liang, J. (2014). Using eco-efficiency as an indicator for sustainable urban development: A case study of Chinese provincial capital cities. Ecological Indicators, 36, 665–671.
10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.09.003
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Zhang, B., Bi, J., Fan, Z. Y., Yuan, Z. W., & Ge, J. J. (2008). Eco-efficiency analysis of industrial Systems in China: A data envelopment analysis approach. Ecological Economics, 68(1–2), 306–316.
10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.03.009
Web of Science®Google Scholar
Zhang, J., Liu, Y., Chang, Y., & Zhang, L. (2017). Industrial eco-efficiency in China: A provincial quantification using three-stage data envelopment analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 238–249.
10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.123
Web of Science®Google Scholar

Citing Literature

Volume25, Issue3

August 2020

Pages 384-401

Club convergence analysis of regional ecological efficiency in China

Abstract

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Club convergence analysis of regional ecological efficiency in China

Abstract

REFERENCES

Citing Literature

References

Related

Information