Study on the Regional Differences of New Quality Productivity in Various Regions of China

Abstract

This paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for new quality productive forces based on three core dimensions: laborers, objects of labor, and means of production. The study emphasizes that improving new quality productive forces is a critical driver for promoting regional development and fostering balanced growth in China's national economy. Using the entropy method, it quantitatively measures the development levels of new quality productive forces across 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2022. The selection of these 30 provinces excludes Special Administrative Regions, Autonomous Regions, and Municipalities to ensure consistency in administrative structure and data comparability. Data were sourced from official statistical yearbooks and related reports, with normalization conducted to ensure the comparability of indicators across regions and time periods. Furthermore, the Kernel density estimation method is applied to analyze spatial-temporal distribution differences and the dynamic evolution characteristics of new quality productive forces nationwide and in the three major regions: Eastern, Central, and Western China. The results indicate that the overall development level of new quality productive forces shows a continuous upward trend, albeit with significant regional disparities. The Eastern region leads significantly, driven by its strong economic foundation, policy support, and innovation-driven growth. The Central region exhibits fluctuations in certain years and provinces, but the overall development trend remains positive. The Western region has relatively low overall development levels, though provinces such as Sichuan and Chongqing show promising potential. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to address regional imbalances and unlock new drivers of economic growth.