Evaluation of the Utilization Efficiency of Water Resources in China Based on ZSG-DEA: A Perspective of Water–Energy–Food Nexus

Abstract The main resources needed for human survival are water, energy and food, the research on relationship among three has become topic. Due to shortage of natural resources, efficiency water–energy–food (WEF) nexus a hot issue scholars governments all over world. simple models cannot study correlation them; methods WEF gradually shift from single integrated model. data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is most effective model, which can measure value each decision-making unit (DMU) overcomes shortcoming that evaluation index system needs give weight. DEA calculate value, but it improve DMU by changing input. In this paper, zero-sum gain (ZSG) constructed based game theory. initial values 30 provinces in China calculated, proportionally allocated according proportional subtractive method. After several iterations, DMUs reach 1, indicating global optimization been achieved. Under condition effectiveness, input water reconfigured. Finally, some conclusions made, strategies proposed with low resource utilization efficiency.