College of Transport & Communications, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China.
School of Naval Architecture Ocean & Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
PLoS One. 2024 Sep 30;19(9):e0311221. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311221. eCollection 2024.
In the global trade landscape, ports are not only critical nodes for the transportation of goods but also increasingly recognized as key factors driving sustainable development through their green competitiveness. This paper takes a green competitiveness perspective to delve into the interactive relationship between port development and the hinterland economy, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and policy recommendations for the green development of ports. An evaluation index system for green competitiveness of ports was constructed, and a combination of the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) and the Entropy Weighted-Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (EW-TOPSIS) method was employed to quantitatively measure and assess the 25 major coastal ports and their hinterland economic systems in China. The study reveals that the overall green competitiveness of these major coastal ports is on the rise, yet notable disparities exist among individual ports. Regionally, the green competitiveness of the Yangtze River Delta port group stands out, while that of the Bohai Rim, southeastern, Pearl River Delta, and southwestern coastal port groups is relatively low. Empirical analysis conducted in this paper demonstrates the positive impact of port green competitiveness on the hinterland economic system, particularly its significant role in enhancing the total and quality aspects of the hinterland economy. Furthermore, it was found that the green competitiveness of ports exerts a more pronounced promotional effect on the hinterland economies of the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta port groups compared to that on the Bohai Rim, southeastern, and southwestern coastal port groups. The results of this paper also hold important guiding value for optimizing the allocation of port resources, promoting port technological innovation, and improving port environmental management, contributing to the harmonious coexistence and long-term development of ports and their hinterlands.
在全球贸易格局中，港口不仅是货物运输的关键节点，而且越来越被视为通过绿色竞争力推动可持续发展的关键因素。本文从绿色竞争力的角度深入探讨了港口发展与腹地经济的互动关系，旨在为港口的绿色发展提供理论基础和政策建议。构建了港口绿色竞争力评价指标体系，采用基于松弛的测度（SBM）和逼近理想解的排序方法（TOPSIS）相结合的方法，对中国 25 个主要沿海港口及其腹地经济系统进行了定量测度和评价。研究结果表明，这些主要沿海港口的整体绿色竞争力呈上升趋势，但各港口之间存在显著差异。从区域上看，长三角港口群的绿色竞争力较为突出，而环渤海、东南沿海、珠三角和西南沿海港口群的绿色竞争力相对较低。本文的实证分析结果表明，港口绿色竞争力对腹地经济系统具有正向影响，特别是对腹地经济的总量和质量方面具有显著的提升作用。此外，还发现港口绿色竞争力对长三角和珠三角港口群的腹地经济的促进作用要大于对环渤海、东南和西南沿海港口群的腹地经济的促进作用。本文的研究结果对优化港口资源配置、促进港口技术创新和提高港口环境管理具有重要的指导价值，有助于实现港口及其腹地的和谐共存和长远发展。
