Dynamic Evolution of the Operating Efficiency of Development Zones in China

The efficient development of Economic and Technological Development Zones (ETDZs) across China has been key to the country’s economic transformation. Despite this, few studies have addressed the dynamic characteristics of the efficiency of ETDZs. Taking China’s 115 national ETDZs established before 2010 as the research sample, this study measures the comprehensive operating efficiency of ETDZs and identifies dynamic characteristics of that efficiency throughout the period 2011–2017, using a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and the Markov method. This research also explores the relationship between the operation efficiency of ETDZs and urban economic development. The results indicate that the operating efficiency of national ETDZs was generally low, and subject to a downward trend over the study period; the efficiency of ETDZs in the western region was found to be higher than that in the central and eastern areas. It was found that operating efficiency was stable in terms of the types of transfer witnessed, and the results emphasize the difficulty of achieving leapfrog development in a relatively short time. In addition, medium-high coupling coordination was detected in the relationship between urban social and economic development and the operating efficiency of ETDZs. When the operating efficiency of the ETDZ was high, this coupling coordination improved significantly. Finally, most of China’s ETDZs remain in a factor-driven stage in their development, with their expansion occurring at the expense of efficiency. Based on these results, this paper suggests that the government should pay greater attention to the overall efficiency and growth quality in the sustainable development of the country’s ETDZs.