Evaluation of urban land use economy-intensive performance modified by urban scaling laws in China

Evaluations of urban land use economy-intensive level rarely focus on its relative performance within the urban system. Adjusting and modifying urban land use economy-intensive levels based on urban scaling laws helps to identify and quantify the potential improvement within the current urban population size more accurately. Based on the urban scaling laws and Scale-Adjusted Metropolitan Indicators (SAMIs), this paper measures the urban land use economy-intensive performance (ULUP) from 2012 to 2022, and analyzes its correlation with land input performance (LIP), land output performance (LOP) and green pollution emissions reduction performance (GEP). Results show that: (1) Urban scaling and SAMIs effectively correct the scaling effects on evaluation results, providing a more objective and quantitative measurement standard for urban land use economy-intensive level. (2) Spatial distribution patterns show that regions with high ULUP in China are concentrated in coastal regions such as the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. In contrast, the ULUP of small and medium-sized cities in Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest China has yet to fully realize its scaling potential, indicating the potential for improvement. From 2012 to 2022, 77.4% of cities maintained stability or showed positive changes in terms of ULUP, indicating an overall trend of stabilization and steady improvement nationwide. (3) From the perspective of regional and scale heterogeneity, ULUP is relatively high in eastern China and megacities, while there is still potential for improvement in Northeast China and medium-sized cities. (4) Cities with comparable population sizes that generate higher outputs using fewer inputs while producing lower emissions demonstrate higher ULUP. This study can help correct the biases of traditional linear evaluation methods, providing a targeted framework and empirical basis for scientifically evaluating ULUP and urban efficiency, and formulating differentiated land management policies.