Research on the development of marine new quality productivity in China: level measurement, dynamic evolution and regional differences

Purpose Marine new quality productivity serves as a pivotal driving force in the transition of the marine economy from a factor-driven to an innovation-driven model. This paper investigates the evolution of marine new quality productivity across 11 coastal provincial regions in China over the period from 2011 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach The study develops an indicator system for marine new quality productive, which encompasses three dimensions: new laborers, new objects of labor and new means of labor. Analytical techniques, including the Gini coefficient and kernel density estimation, are employed to evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution and regional disparities of these forces. Findings The findings reveal the following: (1) Marine new quality productivity demonstrates a generally fluctuating upward trajectory, with the three primary marine economic circles evolving simultaneously. The spatial distribution pattern is characterized by an “East-leading, South-following, and North-lagging” trend, with advanced regions transitioning from a single-core to a multi-core structure. (2) Overall regional disparities exhibit a tendency toward convergence, while inter-regional disparities show fluctuations, with high variability in density being the principal source of overall disparity. (3) Dynamic distribution characteristics suggest that, while the overall level of marine new quality productivity is rising, its distribution structure is shifting from periodic concentration to diversified differentiation, reflecting a dynamic trend of “simultaneous enhancement of levels and structural differentiation”. Originality/value This study offers empirical insights that contribute to optimizing the spatial organization of the marine economy and fostering coordinated regional development.