Evaluation of Ecological Efficiency and Analysis of Its Influencing Factors in Provincial Coastal Regions Using Integrated Super-Efficiency DEA and Tobit Models

With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, the demand for resources has increased significantly, putting the environment under increasing pressure. Effectively using various resources has become crucial. This study employs the Super-Efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis to assess ecological efficiency during the same period and conducts a residual analysis on cities with high efficiency but not efficiently analyzed by Data Envelopment Analysis. The primary objective of this approach is to investigate the potential ecological development of these regions. The dynamic assessment of ecological efficiency is done using the Malmquist index, which takes into account changes in the total factor output growth rate. To investigate factors that affect ecological efficiency and their magnitudes, a Tobit model is being established using panel data. From 2017 to 2022, there were changes in ecological benefits among cities in Zhejiang Province due to intense competition between high-efficiency cities and frequent position changes, as evidenced by the results. The gap between cities with middle to low efficiency is narrowing, which suggests that ecological benefits are being balanced in the province despite a decreasing trend. Both the degree of openness and the proportion of asset investment have a significant and positive impact on ecological efficiency. Enhancing interregional communication, optimizing resource allocation, increasing openness, and adjusting industrial layout is essential to sustain technological innovation and progress. © 2024 Sciendo. All rights reserved.