From local to national networks: Evolution and drivers of interprovincial linkages of construction land use efficiency in China

Abstract

Efficient construction land use is essential to alleviate land scarcity and foster regional coordination, aligning with China's sustainability goals. Despite extensive research on construction land use efficiency (CLUE) dynamics, its potential spatial interactions across regions are not fully understood. This study applies social network analysis to investigate the evolution and driving mechanisms of China's spatial correlation network of CLUE from 2005 to 2019, based on a multi-temporal assessment at the provincial level. Results reveal that although most provinces achieved improvements in CLUE over the study period, pervasive underutilization and severe spatial disparities persist across regions. The inter-provincial linkages of CLUE, particularly in central and eastern China, have clearly strengthened, transforming four local spatial networks into a single, integrated nationwide network. Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, owing to their relatively high efficiency and external influence, play pivotal roles within the evolving network. The spatial patterns are primarily linked to rapid yet uneven growth in population, gross domestic product (GDP), and fiscal investment, along with the basic farmland protection policies. By elucidating the complex and heterogeneous interprovincial spatial linkages of CLUE in China, this study underscores the critical role of optimized network structure in systemically enhancing CLUE, while offering practical guidance for enhancing interregional land governance coordination and advancing sustainable land use in China.