Assessment of the Efficiency of Coupling Sustainable Well‐Being in Mountain Villages: A Case Study of Qinba Mountain Areas in China

Abstract

Under the global Sustainable Development Goals initiative, the pursuit of well‐being is gradually shifting from wealth to sustainable development. Re‐examining the contribution of regional economic, ecological, and social development to the common creation of well‐being, analyzing their deep connections, will help us understand the multidimensional concepts and processes of development, and provide ideas for further promoting the construction of a more equitable and sustainable world. China is moving from comprehensive prosperity to common prosperity, and the continuous improvement of sustainable well‐being provides effective samples for our research. This study focuses on 46 counties in the Qinba Mountains Areas of China and constructs a coupled performance indicator system for sustainable well‐being in mountain villages. The Super SBM model is used to evaluate the matching performance of input and output factors, with Economic capital, Ecological capital, and Social capital as explanatory variables and Sustainable Happiness Index as the expected output. Research has found that: (1) There is a mismatch between the input and output factors of sustainable well‐being in the Qinba Mountain Areas, and management techniques are a key factor hindering the improvement of the coupling performance level of sustainable well‐being in the Qinba Mountain Areas; (2) The coupling performance level of sustainable happiness in the Qinba Mountain Areas is showing a downward trend, and only adjusting the input–output relationship by about 1.02% can achieve optimization and growth in performance level; (3) There is a significant shortage of input factors, with 87% of counties experiencing insufficient economic capital, about 76% experiencing insufficient arable land, and 41% experiencing insufficient social capital. In order to solve the above problems, it is necessary to strengthen the level of sustainable management in the ecological, economic, and social integration of the counties, respectively. Continuously promote capital investment in the mountain economy, such as logistics, industry, consumption, and public services, in order to upgrade the economy. Strict use of arable land and optimization of the land use structure, and implementation of arable land protection policies. Strengthening the level of social governance and enhancing the satisfaction of residents, thereby raising the level of sustainable well‐being. This research will provide a useful reference for achieving sustainable development goals in similar regions of the world.