Analysis of Land-Use Spatial Equilibrium in the Yangtze River Economic Belt Under the Context of High-Quality Development: Quantity Balance and Efficiency Coordination

As the spatial carrier, the high-quality development of land complements the high-quality development of the economy and society. Imbalanced land use severely restricts regional high-quality development. This study uses panel data from 110 cities at or above the prefecture level in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2013 to 2022. Based on a conjugate perspective, it comprehensively considers quantitative balance and efficiency coordination to calculate the spatial equilibrium degree of land use. Kernel density estimation and Moran’s I index are employed to reveal the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics. This study divides land-use spatial equilibrium into different types and proposes differentiated development paths. The findings are as follows: ① In terms of temporal evolution, the spatial equilibrium degree of land use in the YREB exhibits a nonlinear progression, overall trending towards stable convergence. ② In terms of spatial evolution, provincial capital cities and municipalities directly under the central government drive the development of surrounding cities, forming three major urban clusters in the upper, middle, and lower reaches. ③ The spatial clustering characteristics of land-use equilibrium in the YREB are significant, but the degree of agglomeration is continuously weakening. ④ The optimization paths for different types of land-use spatial equilibrium show significant differences, requiring differentiated governance. These findings provide a scientific foundation for optimizing the national spatial pattern of land use, advancing regional balanced development and achieving high-quality development.