A Effectiveness-and Efficiency-Based Improved Approach for Measuring Ecological Well-Being Performance in China

Bei He; Xiaoyun Du; Junkang Li; Dan Chen

doi:10.3390/ijerph20032024

A Effectiveness-and Efficiency-Based Improved Approach for Measuring Ecological Well-Being Performance in China

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Jan 22;20(3):2024. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032024.

Authors

Bei He¹, Xiaoyun Du², Junkang Li², Dan Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Engineering Management and Real Estate, Henan University of Economics and Law, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
² School of Management, Center for Energy, Environment & Economy Research, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China.

Abstract

Finding solutions to the challenges posed by China's urbanization is an urgent, pressing global concern. An effective approach for evaluating the ecological well-being performance (EWP) is a guideline for improvement. Most previous studies have focused on the evaluation of EWP efficiency without considering the effectiveness of the EWP, which may mislead the practice of improving the EWP. This paper proposed a bi-dimensional effectiveness and efficiency perspective evaluation of the EWP for pursuing sustainable development goals. The Ecological Consumption Index and the Human Development Index are selected to evaluate indicators for the EWP. The entropy method, line-weighted method, and four-quadrant evaluation framework are used to disclose EWP effectiveness. A Super SBM model and the DEA moving split-windows analysis method are applied to calculate the EWP efficiency. Data from 30 provinces in China for the period of 1997 to 2019 have been collected for empirical study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The main findings of the case study are: (1) The ECI and HDI increased during the study period, while the annual average value of the EWP efficiency among 30 provinces in China has decreased with fluctuation; (2) provinces in southern China and Chongqing have a low level of ECI and demonstrate good performance in the HDI; and (3) most developed regions, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, have not presented the best EWPs. The results of this study can provide a basis for understanding the EWP in China so as to formulate targeted sustainable-development strategies.

Keywords: China; EWP effectiveness; EWP efficiency; ecological well-being performance (EWP); sustainable development.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Beijing
China
Economic Development*
Efficiency
Humans
Sustainable Development
Urbanization*

Grants and funding

This research work is supported by the Science Foundation of the Chinese Education Commission (No. 22YJCZH047), the planning research project for the Philosophy and Social Science of Henan Province (2020CZH007), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M722895), special, major projects for research and development of Henan Province (Scientific and technological projects) (No. 202102310297), and the major program for scientific and technological research by institutions of higher education in Henan province (No. 20A630001).