Land-Use Efficiency in Shandong (China): Empirical Analysis Based on a Super-SBM Model

A reasonable evaluation of land-use efficiency is an important issue in land use and development. By using a super-SBM model, the construction and cultivated land-use efficiency of 17 cities in Shandong from 2006 to 2018 were estimated and the spatial-temporal variation was analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The land use efficiency levels were quite different, and low-efficiency cities impacted the overall development process. (2) The efficiency values of construction land generally fluctuated and rose, meaning that room remains for future efficiency improvements. Cultivated land generally showed a high utilization efficiency, but it fluctuated and decreased. (3) The construction land-use efficiency was highest in the midland region, especially in Laiwu city, followed by the eastern region and Qingdao city, and the western region. The spatial variation in cultivated land presented a trend of "high in the middle, low in the periphery," centered on Jinan and Yantai city. (4) Pure technical efficiency was the main restriction driving inefficient utilization in the western region, while scale efficiency played that role in the east. Based on the findings, policy suggestions were proposed to improve the land-use efficiency in Shandong and promote urban sustainable development.