Multidimensional Measurement and Regulation of Regional Coordinated and Balanced Development Levels: Using the Yangtze River Delta Region in China as an Example

Abstract

In recent years, the problem of unbalanced and insufficient development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region has become increasingly prominent, posing higher requirements for regional coordinated development. Based on elucidating the connotations of the balanced development of regional coordination, this article constructed an evaluation index system for the balanced development of regional coordination in the YRD region in 12 dimensions, such as people’s living standards, basic public services, and beautiful ecology. It attempted to quantitatively reveal the level of balanced development of regional coordination in the YRD region in 2020 and develop optimization strategies using mathematical models such as the entropy method, spatial autocorrelation, and the Gini coefficient, which have important value for clarifying the inherent contradictions in the balanced development of regional coordination in this region and promoting regional sustainable development. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) At the provincial level, Jiangsu Province won in two sub-categories, coordination and integration; Zhejiang won in the balance sub-category; and Anhui performed better in the integration sub-category. (2) The main reasons for the significant differences between the cities were the public basic services in the equilibrium index, the industrial coordination and human–nature coordination in the coordination index, and the market unity sub-item in the integration index. (3) Based on the coordinated and balanced development level in each city’s regions, four types of regulatory areas were further divided, namely, key development areas, optimized development areas, relatively underdeveloped areas, and important safety barrier areas. Differentiated regulatory policies were proposed for these areas.