Heterogeneity of urban‒rural responses to multigoal policy from an efficiency perspective: An empirical study in China

In this study, we employed the distance function to measure land efficiency (LE) and land use efficiency (LUE) in Chinese urban and rural areas and used the difference-in-differences (DID) model to estimate the treatment effects of the multigoal land use policy (MGLUP) on all efficiencies. LE and LUE exhibited specific numerical and spatiotemporal distribution differences. Research on simple efficiency could be one-sided for understanding regional land use characteristics. Except for the nonsignificant positive response of urban LUE , the other efficiencies responded negatively to the pilot scheme. The efficiency loss in rural areas was greater than that in urban areas. From the perspective of urban and rural core and noncore areas, rural areas were more dependent on land input, and LE in agricultural production areas was more resistant to policy shocks. Additionally, urban areas were capital- and technology-intensive, and LUE in the eastern region stimulated growth potential under pilot constraints. This framework was utilized to reveal the divergence of different efficiencies of the MGLUP, and this research paradigm positively impacts academic research and policy-making related to sustainable resource utilization and management. • The LE-LUE integrated framework was proposed to measure the sustainable land use. • The LE and LUE were compared conceptually, methodologically and empirically. • The divergent responses of urban-rural area to the policy were estimated. • Path-dependence and spatial lock-in were discussed from spatiotemporal perspective.