The Efficiency of Green Development Between Eastern and Western Regions of China

ABSTRACT The Super‐SBM model was utilized to assess and quantify the effectiveness of green development (EGD) in China's eastern and western regions from 2004 to 2020. Building upon this, the kernel density estimation method, the Dagum Gini coefficient method, and the spatial panel convergence model were employed to investigate the dynamic changes, regional disparities, and spatial convergence trends of EGD. This study finds: (1) Both the eastern and western regions experience a specific downward pressure on EGD, demonstrating a spatial pattern characterized by “high in the east and low in the west”. (2) The overall difference in EGD between the east and west has an expanding trend, presenting polarization characteristics from regional differences. (3) The EGD between the east and west as a whole has σ‐convergence trend, absolute β‐convergence trend, and conditional β‐convergence trend, and the impact of the industrial composition, the urbanization level, the openness degree, the technological innovation, and the government intervention on EGD has significant regional heterogeneity. The above findings are significant for narrowing the regional differences in EGD and promoting coordinated development of the two regions.