GREEN DEVELOPMENT EFFICIENCY OF COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS IN THE YANGTZE RIVER ECONOMIC BELT: EVIDENCE FROM A SUSTAINABILITY ORIENTED PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The sustainable transformation of cold chain logistics in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) plays a pivotal role in fostering the broader national transition toward sustainability. Anchored in the principles of sustainable development, this study employs the super-efficiency slack-based measure and the global Malmquist-Luenberger index to evaluate both the static and dynamic green development efficiency of cold chain logistics across 11 provinces and municipalities within the YREB from 2013 to 2023. Moreover, spatial disparities are investigated through the Dagum Gini coefficient to uncover the regional sustainability gaps. The findings reveal that: (1) Although the overall static green efficiency of cold chain logistics in the YREB remains moderate, total-factor productivity demonstrates a steadily rising trend, reflecting a progressive shift toward sustainable operational performance. (2) Both technical efficiency and technological progress jointly drive this advancement, with technological progress exerting a more pronounced influence on the realization of sustainable efficiency gains. (3) Significant regional disparities persist, exhibiting a nonlinear pattern distinguished by a primary decrease succeeded by subsequent recovery. In response, the study proposes targeted strategies to optimize the allocation of sustainable resource factors, enhance input–output efficiency, implement differentiated regional pathways, and accelerate the sustainable and green development of cold chain logistics within the YREB.