Spatial Correlation Network Characteristics of Comprehensive Transportation Green Efficiency in China

Accurately characterizing the structural features of the spatial correlation network of comprehensive transportation green efficiency (CTGE) is essential for achieving balanced regional transportation development and eliminating regional disparities. This study employs the slacks-based measure-data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA) model to assess the CTGE of China. Furthermore, the standard deviational ellipse (SDE) model and social network analysis (SNA) method are adopted to delineate the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and spatial correlation network characteristics of CTGE, based on input–output data from the transportation industry across 30 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) between 2003 and 2020. The findings reveal that China’s CTGE exhibits a fluctuating trend of an initial decline followed by subsequent increase, with a national average of 0.555 and an average of 0.722 in eastern regions, 0.434 in central regions, and 0.478 in western regions. This demonstrates that China’s CTGE maintains an overall low level while showing significant regional disparities. The spatial center of gravity of China’s CTGE has shifted from a southwestern to a northeastern trajectory, with a generally concentrated spatial distribution pattern. Furthermore, China’s CTGE demonstrates a distinct “core-edge” hierarchical structure, with regions occupying varied roles and statuses within the network. The central and western regions are positioned at the network periphery, predominantly receiving spillover effects from other regions, while the eastern region, driven by its strong spillover effect, serves as the network’s “engine”. The most significant contribution of this study lies in developing a more comprehensive CTGE evaluation framework and precisely identifying the structural positions and functional roles of different regions within the network, which holds substantial theoretical and practical value for advancing sustainable development in China’s transportation sector.