If There Appears a Path to Improve Chinese Logistics Industry Efficiency in Low-Carbon Perspective? A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Provincial Data

Abstract

Taking the data of 30 Chinese provinces as a sample in which CO2 emission is denoted by undesirable output, this paper calculated the efficiencies of the logistics industry by applying the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method and analyzed the factors that affect logistics industry efficiency by applying the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method based on configuration thinking. It is found that the efficiency of China’s low-carbon logistics industry has presented an increasing trend and the efficiency gaps among the regions have been enlarged in the last 10 years. Two highly efficient paths have been formed in the three years after 2015. The path of management opening type has a high coverage ratio; logistics management level and operation are the core factors that improve logistics efficiency. The path of economy driving type covers few cases and it mainly relies on relative priority to influence and drive the development of regional logistics.