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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (10): 1841-1854.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.098

• Regional Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Measurement and analysis of inclusive green development efficiency in the Yellow River Basin cities from the perspective of water cycle

MENG Wangsheng1(), LIU Weilin1, LIU Huazhen2()   

  1. 1. Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
    2. School of Urban Economics and Public Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100070, China
  • Received:2025-02-27 Revised:2025-03-19 Online:2025-10-25 Published:2025-10-27
  • Contact: LIU Huazhen E-mail:mengwangsheng@163.com;lhz7305@163.com

Abstract:

The assessment of inclusive green development efficiency (IGDE) using a water cycle perspective is pivotal for the promotion of ecological sustainability and high-quality growth in the Yellow River Basin. This study addresses regional water scarcity challenges, incorporating indicators of the water cycle into an IGDE evaluation framework, relying on a super-efficiency slacks-based measure model to analyze IGDE's spatiotemporal evolution across 77 cities from 2013 to 2022. Methods of spatial autocorrelation and geographically temporally weighted regression were used to identify regional disparities and dynamic mechanisms of influence. Key findings include the following: (1) IGDE demonstrated a persistent upward trajectory, including accelerated growth, following the implementation of a national strategy for basin development, highlighting the role that policy interventions play. (2) Significant spatial heterogeneity emerged, revealing efficiency gaps between upper-basin and middle-lower basin regions. (3) High-efficiency clusters centered on economically advanced cities exhibited weakening spatial dependency over time. (4) Urbanization, natural resource endowments, institutional governance, and social innovation were identified as core drivers, and their impacts displayed distinct spatiotemporal variabilities. Theoretically, the research in this study advances sustainability science by integrating water cycle dynamics into green development metrics in a way that addresses limitations in conventional efficiency assessments. Methodologically, it establishes a novel spatiotemporal analytical framework that combines the measurement of efficiency, spatial econometrics, and regression modeling to decipher complex regional interactions. In a practical perspective, the findings provide actionable insight to optimize resource allocation, enhancing cross-regional governance and formulating adaptive policies tailored to basin-specific conditions. Bridging ecological objectives and socioeconomic inclusivity, this study offers empirical evidence that supports the coordinated management of water resources and green development in the Yellow River Basin.

Key words: water resources, inclusive green development efficiency, ultra-efficiency SBM model, GTWR model, Yellow River Basin