Sustainable development evaluation of the society–economy–environment in a resource-based city of China:A complex network approach

Resource-based cities (RBCs) have made a significant contribution to country development in certain historical periods. Achieving sustainable development of the society–economy–environment system has been the key issue in the RBCs development process because resources are being depleted. At present, the studies on sustainable development of the society–economy–environment system of RBCs are insufficient. Moreover, the relevant research method is lacking. Therefore, this study introduced complex network method to dynamically and systematically analyze the development process of a typical RBC (Shuozhou) in China from 1989 to 2016. In this study, a theoretical framework of RBCs sustainable development was proposed and the evaluation indicator system was established from three aspects: social harmony, economic development, and environmental improvement. The important nodes of the complex network (e.g., population, regional gross domestic product, green infrastructure land) were identified by the degree, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. The whole society–economy–environment system had maximum connectivity and information transmission efficiency compared with an individual society, economy, or environment subsystem. Moreover, the stability of the complex network of the society–economy–environment system in Period Ⅲ (2008–2016) was higher compared with other two periods. Based on the knowledge of the society–economy–environment system’s complex network structure and interrelationships, population adjustments in quantity and quality, a moderate increase in consumption, and industrial adjustment are critical measures for social and economic sustainable development of RBCs. Moreover, the government should focus on the proportional relationship among green infrastructure land, forest land, and other lands and increase the vegetation coverage rate.