Eco-efficiency analysis of cities: A Malmquist index approach

Eco-efficiency is an instrument for sustainability analysis, indicating how efficient the economic activity is with regard to nature´s goods and services. This paper conducts an eco-efficiency analysis for regional ecological system in China by Malmquist index. By using real data of 11 cities in China, an empirical study is employed to illustrate the pattern of eco-efficiency. The results indicate that most cities in Zhejiang are relatively eco-efficient. The study provides deeper insights into the causes of eco-inefficiency change, and gives further implications on environmental protection strategies in China.