Evaluation and obstacle analysis of high-quality development in Yellow River Basin and Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

The paper begins by highlighting the advancements in social and economic spheres since the Second Industrial Revolution, alongside growing concerns about resource consumption and environmental degradation. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and mentions the UN's 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the paper notes the need for localized frameworks that align with specific regional contexts. China's concept of High-Quality Development (HQD), introduced in 2017 and reiterated in 2022, is presented as such a framework, encompassing innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and shared development. The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) and Yellow River Basin (YRB) are identified as crucial economic regions and ecological barriers in China, playing a significant role in the nation's future HQD. The paper aims to provide a scientific assessment and comparative analysis of HQD levels in these two basins, identifying both strengths and weaknesses to inform policy adjustments and promote regional coordinated development.

The literature review summarizes existing research on HQD, categorized into three aspects: the scientific connotation of HQD, the construction of HQD evaluation index systems, and the influencing factors of HQD. Existing studies often use single-dimensional indicators like Total Factor Productivity (TFP) or multi-dimensional indicators encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects. However, the review highlights the lack of a unified indicator system and the need for a more complete system reflecting the five core elements of China's new development philosophy. It also notes the limitations of previous studies in their lack of comprehensive comparative analyses of YRB and YREB and their failure to quantitatively analyze obstacles to HQD in both basins.

The study employs a four-step research framework. First, it analyzes the connotation of HQD based on China's new development philosophy, focusing on five subsystems: innovative development (ID), coordinated development (CD), green development (GD), open development (OD), and shared development (SD). Second, it constructs an HQD evaluation index system and an evaluation model using the entropy weight TOPSIS method. Third, it measures the HQD levels of 19 provincial units in YRB and YREB from 2010-2019, analyzing both spatial and temporal patterns. Fourth, it utilizes the Obstacle Degree Model to identify obstacles hindering HQD in both regions. The methodology details the construction of the evaluation index system with 21 indicators across five subsystems, explaining the selection of indicators for each subsystem and their positive or negative effects on HQD. The entropy weight TOPSIS model is described in detail, including equations for calculating indicator weights, data standardization, and the final HQD index. The Obstacle Degree Model is also explained.

The key findings are presented in several parts. First, the overall HQD levels of both YRB and YREB are analyzed, showing an increasing trend from 2010 to 2019 but with significant differences between the two regions. YREB consistently demonstrates higher HQD levels compared to YRB. Spatial patterns show Shanghai consistently ranking highest, while YRB provinces generally have lower levels. The analysis then examines the dynamics of HQD subsystems. Results show a consistent pattern of GD > CD > SD > ID > OD, indicating varying subsystem contributions. Green development (GD) shows the fastest growth, particularly in YRB. Open development (OD) also shows significant improvement, especially in YRB, despite lower overall levels compared to YREB. The analysis of obstacles reveals OD and ID as the primary constraints on HQD in both regions, although their influence shows a declining trend. Green development (GD) emerges as a significant bottleneck for YRB, especially in its upper and middle reaches. Finally, analysis of obstacle factors at the indicator level reveals several key limitations across different subsystems, highlighting the need for specific strategies to address these bottlenecks. The analysis concludes with the observation of a "divergence effect" between economic development and people's well-being.

The findings highlight the complex interplay of various factors influencing HQD in YRB and YREB. The persistent regional disparities underscore the need for targeted policies addressing the specific challenges faced by each region. The increasing trend in HQD indices demonstrates the effectiveness of China's new development philosophy. However, the relatively low overall levels and the identification of significant obstacles (particularly OD and ID) suggest further improvements are necessary. The study's findings contribute to a deeper understanding of regional development in China and provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to promote balanced and sustainable growth.

The study concludes that while HQD indices in both YRB and YREB are increasing, significant regional disparities and obstacles persist. Openness and innovation are key limitations. Green development is particularly challenging for YRB. The study recommends strengthening ecological civilization, enhancing regional collaboration, and formulating differentiated strategies based on regional characteristics. Future research should focus on smaller geographical scales and comparative analyses based on geographical units rather than administrative units.

The study acknowledges limitations due to data availability, using provincial units as the primary research unit. This may not fully capture variations at smaller geographical scales. Future research should consider finer geographical units and explore the influence of physical geography and socioeconomic factors on HQD in a more comparative way. The study also focuses on the perspective of administrative units; future studies can adopt the perspective of geographical units to explore the issue further.