The effect of urbanization on agricultural eco-efficiency and mediation analysis

Improving agricultural eco-efficiency (AEE) is a promising way to achieve the sustainability of development. Although AEE evaluation and driving forces were widely explored, few studies have systematically examined how urbanization, core force, affected AEE. To supplement existing literature, GB-US-SBM model was used assess in China during 2004–2020. Furtherly, it mediation effect investigate urbanization influenced different agriculture development regions by reducing labor changing rural residents’ income. The results showed that: 1) During 2004–2020, China’s revealed stable improvement, with mean score increasing from 0.138 0.744. Regarding spatial distribution, exhibited gradient decrease: optimized region > moderate protected region. 2) Urbanization had significantly positive on AEE, magnitude greatest region, followed 3) mediator variables, income, positively mediated relationship between former larger mediating effect. Notably, income did not mediate According findings, improve sustainable China, some policy suggestions put forward aspects transforming mode, accelerating process, enhancing vocational education for middle-aged young expanding channels