From efficiency to equity: Changing patterns of China's regional transportation systems from an in-use steel stocks perspective
Abstract
Transportation plays an important role in boosting the economy. Rapid development of China's transportation system recently has driven a continuous accumulation of steel. In this study, we estimated the in-use steel stocks of 34 infrastructures and vehicles in four subsystems (railway, intercity road, urban road, and subway) in 31 provinces of China from 1990 to 2019 based on a bottom-up approach. The results show that China’s in-use steel stock in transportation system increased 13-fold and six changing patterns are identified. The Gini coefficient curve of the provinces’ stocks shows an inverted “U” shape over time, indicating a shrinking regional gap in recent years; this reflects a transition from efficiency to equity. We also measured the steel stock productivity (GDP per stock) in different regions and observed its diverse evolution types, which can cause changes in the nationwide distribution of stock productivity (currently high in the east and low in the west). For eastern regions, vehicles act as the main growth point, while western regions are vigorously developing infrastructure. Our results help to illustrate the development status and spatial structural distribution of China's transportation system, and will facilitate improved management of efficiency problems and future challenges in China’s transformation and development.
Author(s)
| Name |
Affiliation |
|
Xin Tian
|
Beijing Normal University |
|
Shuntian Xu |
Beijing Normal University |
|
Huaxuan Wang |
Beijing Normal University |
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