Evaluating water use efficiency in China's western provinces based on a slacks-based measure (SBM)-undesirable window model and a malmquist productivity index

Abstract

This paper evaluated the water use efficiency in 12 Chinese western provinces from 2005 to 2015. Based on data availability and the index selection rationality and the slacks-based measure (SBM)-undesirableWindow analysis model and the Malmquist productivity index, the water resource inputs and outputs were measured to analyze water use efficiency. Total investment in fixed assets for the whole society and total water, made up of total agricultural water, total industrial water, and total domestic water, were used as the input indexes, and regional GDP and waste water discharge were the output indexes, with the waste water discharge being regarded as an undesirable output. The data from different years and different provinces in the same period, and data from the same year and the same provinces in different periods were compared in order to derive the water resource efficiency and technical changes over time and space. It was found that the total water resource factor productivity in the 12 provinces grew slowly in the study period, that water resource technical progress positively affected water use efficiency, and that a lack of technical efficiency restricted water use efficiency growth. Several suggestions are given to optimize water use efficiency in the 12 provinces. The research findings and suggestions provide valuable reference for studies in related fields.