Analyzing the spatial-temporal characteristics of the marine economic efficiency of countries along the Maritime Silk Road and the influencing factors

Abstract

Abstract The 21st-century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) initiative provides a new direction for the high-quality development of China and the marine economy along the route. Studying the marine economy of the countries along the MSR will contribute to its sustainable development. This study used a slacks-based model (SBM) and considered undesired output to estimate the marine economic efficiency of 20 countries along the MSR from 2007 to 2017. The Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index model was applied to analyze the dynamic changes in and decomposition efficiency of marine economic efficiency. A dynamic panel model was employed to analyze the factors affecting efficiency. The results revealed that the overall marine economic efficiency of countries along the MSR trended upward from 2007 to 2017. The overall efficiency of the ocean at both ends of the MSR was greater than that in the middle and there was a clear difference in the marine economic efficiency of developed and developing countries. Moreover, as per the Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index model, the overall index demonstrated a fluctuating trend with the growth in the economic efficiency of countries along the MSR, which depend more on improvements in scale efficiency, and not on pure technical efficiency. Also, as shown by a dynamic panel model, degrees of resource dependence and levels of opening up have positive impacts on marine economic efficiency, while levels of economic development and the industrial structures have a negative impact. Therefore, countries along the MSR should actively adjust their industrial structures and attach importance to exchanges and cooperation that lead to maritime economic development.