Evaluating Economic-Environment and High-Quality Development

The data involved in this study include the China Regional Economic Statistical Yearbook (2010–2014), the China Statistical Yearbook (2011–2020), the Hubei Statistical Yearbook (2011–2020), the Hunan Statistical Yearbook (2011–2020), and the Jiangxi Statistical Yearbook (2011–2020).
The evaluation index system is the foundation to study the coupling and coordinated development of EE and HQED [25 (link)]. Based on the systematic review of relevant literature, this research builds an indicator system to comprehensively evaluate EE and HQED through comparative analysis and expert discussion. In terms of EE indicators, based on causal logic [26 ], this study deploys the PSR model (stress, state, response) to design the content of EE indicators. This is a common model for environmental quality assessment and is widely used in the design of EE-related indicators [27 ]. It complies with the index design principles of operability, representativeness and scientificity. Among them, the status subsystem includes the per capita green area and the green coverage rate of the built-up area. The pressure subsystem includes smoke (powder) dust emission per unit of industrial added value and exhaust gas emission per unit of industrial added value. The response subsystem includes domestic waste treatment rate and sewage treatment rate. Furthermore, compared with existing studies, some parameters have not been included in the indicator system, such as the per capita total grain [28 (link)], per capita industrial sulfur dioxide emissions [29 (link)], etc., due to the impact of changes in statistical indicators, data classification adjustment, statistical continuity and other factors.
HQED indicators are combined with the concept of high-quality development to build the HQED evaluation index system, using indicators from the four subsystems of innovative development, coordinated development, open development and shared development (Table 1). Different from previous studies that focus on the quantitative characteristics of economic development [30 (link)], the evaluation dimension of HQED can more comprehensively reflect the sustainability [31 (link)], fairness [32 ] and stability [33 (link)] of economic development. Among them, innovation is the driving force of HQED. From the perspectives of innovation investment and innovation contribution, three indicators are selected to measure the innovative development level of the economy: the proportion of scientific research personnel expenditure in GDP, the number of scientific research personnel per 10,000 people, and the proportion of high-tech enterprises in the country. Coordination is the inherent requirement of high-quality development. Three indicators are selected to measure the level of coordinated development: the per capita GDP reflects the level of income coordination, the ratio of per capita consumption level to the national consumption level reflects the level of consumption coordination, and the proportion of the output value of the secondary and tertiary industries to the total output value reflects the characteristics of the industrial structure. Openness is the condition for the realization of HQED, and it is also the key link for the realization of HQED in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The three indicators of foreign investment, foreign trade and tourism are selected to measure openness. Sharing is the fundamental pursuit of high-quality development. Three indicators are selected, including the number of doctors per thousand people, the proportion of social security and employment expenditure in general public budget expenditure, and the registered unemployment rate, which specifically reflect the social welfare, social security and social stability.