Spatio-temporal pattern and coordinated development of eco-compensation performance of 101 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Eco-compensation is an important component of ecological civilization construction. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the spatial and temporal pattern of eco-compensation performance and its internal coupling and coordinated features to promote ecological civilization construction. We proposed that eco-compensation performance consists of benefit and efficiency, and used the projection pursuit and super-efficiency SBM-DEA models to measure the eco-compensation benefit and efficiency of 101 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2010 to 2021 and to analyze their spatial and temporal patterns. Finally, we used the coupling coordination degree model to reveal the coupling and coordinated features of eco-compensation performance. The results showed that the temporal trends of eco-compensation benefit and efficiency were "W" and "U" shaped. The eco-compensation benefit in eastern or mega-cities was the highest, whereas the eco-compensation efficiency in western or small/medium-sized cities was the highest. Coupling coordination degree of eco-compensation performance was in the coordinated development stage from 2010 to 2012, with a concentration of agglomeration effects in the central region. It was in the transition/adjustment stage from 2013 to 2020, with low-value areas concentrated and scattered high-value areas, and smaller regional differences. It was in the coordinated development stage in 2021, with a clear agglomeration effect in the eastern region. Cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt should incorporate the eco-compensation performance coupling coordination mechanism into their optimized eco-compensation policy plans based on the stage of coordinated development, to achieve their environmental improvement goals.