Study on Spatial-temporal Pattern and Influencing Factors of Coupling Coordination between Ecological Environment and Regional Economy under High-quality Development: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China

Abstract

Studying the relationship between ecological environment and economy (EERE) development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is the realistic requirement to realize the modern economic system in the region, and is of great significance for promoting the high-quality development (H-QD) of China’s economy. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation index system of EERE from the perspective of H-QD was constructed. Besides, the entropy method, the coupling coordination model and the Tobit model were adopted to explore the H-QD, spatial-temporal coupling relationship and influencing factors of EERE of 11 provinces and municipalities in the YREB in the period 2008-2018. The results show that temporally, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between EERE in the region rises in fluctuations. Spatially, the CCD is high in the lower reaches and low in upper reaches, but the spatial gap gradually narrows with the passage of time. Among the influencing factors, GDP growth rate and other factors have an inhibitory effect on the CCD, while technology market turnover, fiscal expenditure and total import and export volume exert a promoting effect on it. On this basis, some countermeasures and suggestions are put forward to enhance the coordinated development of EERE.