Abstract:
Based on data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2021, this study calculated the levels of New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF) and Chinese Modernization. Subsequently, a coupling coordination model was applied to measure the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the two systems. Then, methods including the Dagum Gini coefficient, Moran's index, and convergence models were used to reveal the spatial disparities, spatial agglomeration characteristics, and convergence patterns of the CCD. The findings indicate that: The national CCD between NQPF and Chinese Modernization showed a monotonically increasing trend; however, the coordination level remained relatively low, reaching only the primary coordination stage by 2021. Significant regional disparities in CCD were observed, exhibiting a characteristic pattern of Eastern Region > Central Region > Western Region > Northeastern Region. Regarding spatial differences, the overall disparity in CCD gradually decreased, but intra-regional disparities within the Central and Western Regions increased. The overall disparity primarily originated from inter-regional differences, with the disparities between the Eastern Region and the Northeastern, Western, and Central Regions playing a decisive role. In terms of spatial agglomeration characteristics, there were significant spatial disparities in the CCD across China, displaying significant positive spatial agglomeration, where both driving effects and siphoning effects coexisted among provinces. Regarding convergence patterns, σ-convergence was observed nationally and in the Northeastern Region, while β-convergence existed across the nation and all four major regions, but the convergence speeds varied, with the Northeastern Region converging the fastest and the Eastern Region converging the slowest.