Abstract:
The balanced development of urban-rural basic public services is a solid foundation for realizing urban-rural integration. This study used the Densi-Graph curve to identify urban and rural multi-level spaces, and then used the information entropy function, Dagum Gini coefficient, and spatio-temporal geographically weighted regression model to reveal the spatio-temporal differences of the urban-rural equalization of basic public services in the counties of Chongqing Municipality and its driving factors from 2012 to 2022. The study find that: (1) The overall level of the urban-rural equalization of basic public services in counties is low, the growth rate is slow, and there is still much room for improvement. In addition, there is a gradient difference characteristic that decreases outward from the central urban area. (2) The level of the urban-rural equalization of basic public services in counties shows a distribution pattern that is higher in the west and lower in the northeast and southeast of Chongqing. The growth of equalization level in the central urban area and the regional central cities is stagnant, while the latecomer regions of northeastern and southeastern parts of Chongqing are in a state of improvement. (3) Regional differences in the level of the urban-rural equalization of basic public services in counties are decreasing, with the overall difference mainly stemming from the gap between the central urban area and the southeast of Chongqing. (4) There is significant spatial heterogeneity in the intensity of each driver. Urbanization, industrial structure, and government financial capacity are the main drivers of the urban-rural equalization of basic public services in counties.