Central city construction and urban land green utilization efficiency: evidence from Chinese urban agglomerations

Central city construction (CCC) functions as an important policy instrument for facilitating China’s green transformation, while urban agglomerations serve as the primary spatial carriers of this process. In the context of low land utilization efficiency and environmental pressure, this study examines how CCC influences urban land green utilization efficiency (ULGUE) within urban agglomerations (UAs). Using panel data from 2006 to 2021 for 213 cities across 19 Chinese UAs, this study measures ULGUE using the super-efficiency SBM model and investigates the impact of CCC on ULGUE via a difference-in-differences (DID) model. ULGUE is significantly enhanced by CCC, and the effect of CCC on ULGUE varies noticeably. CCC can further optimize land resource allocation and utilization efficiency by enhancing green innovation vitality, promoting industrial upgrading, accelerating internet agglomeration, and improving the urbanization level. CCC is a major national development plan that not only greatly advances new-type urbanization but also promotes the integrated and coordinated growth of UAs. Furthermore, it provides a productive methodology and theoretical reference for urban spatial structure optimization and sustainable land use in other developing countries.