Evaluation of High-Quality Development Level of Regional Economy and Exploration of Index Obstacle Degree: A Case Study of Henan Province

Abstract

As China’s economy transitions from a phase of high-speed growth to one of high-quality development, the study of high-quality economic development has become increasingly important. Assessing and analyzing the current level of high-quality economic development can provide guiding recommendations for future economic transformation and high-quality growth. This research constructs an evaluation index system for high-quality economic development based on panel data from Henan Province spanning from 2006 to 2021. The entropy weight method combined with the TOPSIS model is utilized to determine the weights of each indicator and to assess the level of high-quality economic development in Henan Province; a coupling coordination model is employed to analyze the degree of coupling and coordination among its subsystems; and a barrier degree model is applied to identify the main obstacles to high-quality economic development in Henan Province. The study finds that (1) the proportion of technology market turnover has the most significant impact on high-quality economic development, while the revenue sharing level has the least. (2) During the research period, both the level of high-quality economic development in Henan Province and the subsystems of economic structure, innovation drive, regional coordination, and social welfare have shown an upward trend. (3) The coupling coordination degree of the subsystems increases at a rate of approximately 9% per year. (4) The obstacle degree of the economic stability, regional coordination, and infrastructure subsystems is on the rise, while that of the economic structure, opening up level, and social welfare subsystems is decreasing. (5) The inhibitory effects of the urban–rural income coordination level, the coordination level of urban and rural consumption, the community service level, the global unemployment rate, and the global trade level have intensified since 2017. Based on the aforementioned research findings, this paper proposes a series of policy recommendations. The translation ensures logical coherence and enhances the overall quality and readability of the content.