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Urban Competitiveness Measurement of Chinese Cities Based on a Structural Equation Model

Author

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  • Zhiyuan Yuan

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xinqi Zheng

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Lulu Zhang

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Guoliang Zhao

    (School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

Abstract

In the current era, competition among countries and regions is in fact among cities. Thus, how to measure urban competitiveness precisely is a basic and important question. The two main approaches to this are comprehensive evaluation based on a set of indicators and network analysis based on inter-city relations. However, both have shortcomings. In this study, we introduced structural equation model (SEM) into urban competitiveness measurement to integrate the two approaches. We built a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS–SEM) according to the analysis of causal relationship among urban attribute indicators → urban functions → urban competitiveness → urban flow intensities. Following the processes of algorithm selection, model building, fitting and assessment, and modification in PLS-SEM modeling, we measured the urban competitiveness of Chinese cities in 2010 and analyzed its distribution quantitatively and spatially. The results revealed relationships between factors contained in the model and urban competitiveness and proved that the PLS-SEM urban competitiveness measurement approach we proposed is theoretically reliable and statistically valid.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiyuan Yuan & Xinqi Zheng & Lulu Zhang & Guoliang Zhao, 2017. "Urban Competitiveness Measurement of Chinese Cities Based on a Structural Equation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:4:p:666-:d:96522
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Malin Song & Qianjiao Xie, 2021. "Evaluation of Urban Competitiveness of the Huaihe River Eco-Economic Belt Based on Dynamic Factor Analysis," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 58(3), pages 615-639, October.
    2. Xiaoxiao Ye & Yong Fan & Jing Miao & Zongyi He, 2022. "The Competitiveness of Regional Urban System in Hubei Province of China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Cem Çağrı Dönmez & Abdulkadir Atalan, 2019. "Developing Statistical Optimization Models for Urban Competitiveness Index: Under the Boundaries of Econophysics Approach," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-11, November.

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