Spatial mismatch of resources in China under the “dual-carbon” goal: A new perspective incorporating energy and environmental factors

Given the critical interplay between energy allocation efficiency, economy, and the environment, China has heightened its requirements for energy efficiency in line with its “dual carbon” goal. Based on this, this paper enhances the conventional resource mismatch model by integrating the “labor-capital-energy-environment” framework, incorporating both energy and environment (CO2) factors. It then computes a regional resource mismatch index and examines the evolution trend and agglomeration characteristics of resource spatial mismatch across regions. The results of the study show that: (1) While the spatial mismatch of labor resources in China has been improved, the spatial mismatch of energy, capital and environment is still intensifying, and the intensifying of “over-allocation of resources” in the northeast, central and western regions is the main cause of the deterioration of the spatial mismatch of the three factors. (2) The spatial agglomeration patterns of the four factors of energy, environment, capital and labor show the characteristics of high-high and low-low agglomeration, and demonstrate strong regional cohesion. (3) While market-oriented reforms have facilitated some coordination between capital and labor factor allocations, the alignment of energy and environmental resources remains unimproved, likely hindered by intensified competition between these factors in neighboring provinces.