Sustainability, Vol. 11, Pages 1508: Spatial Heterogeneity and Coupling of Economy and Population Gravity Centres in the Hengduan Mountains (Sustainability)

The junction region of the Sichuan–Yunnan–Guizhou province (JRSYG) is a multinational community that includes the Hengduan mountainous areas, although its economy is lagging behind other regions in China. This study explored the spatial heterogeneity and coupling of economic and population gravity centres during the period 1995–2015, and determined the hotspots driving the economic development in the JRSYG region. We obtained the following results: (1) The global Moran’s I and the Moran scatter plots of the economy and population showed that the distribution of economy and population was a nature clustering. The scatter plots of the economy and population were mainly distributed in Quadrant III, with an L–L gathering. With the passage of time, the agglomeration and driving effects of the economy become stronger. (2) By the dynamic evolution process of the economy and population, the economy gravity centre (GE) and population gravity centre (GP) were approaching each other during the period 1995–2015. The equilibrium points showed an inverted U-shaped curve for the past few years. The spatial coupling of GE and GP increased every year. The balanced degree of regional development continuously improved. (3) The economic development level showed a polarisation pattern with a southwest growth pole and northeast growth pole. The point–axis spatial development pattern is presented, with two economic hotspots (Panzhihua and Luzhou) and three sub-hotspots (Xichang, Zhong shan, Zhaoyang). If further advantages from policy and infrastructure support are obtained, the hot poles can drive the social and economic development of the surrounding regions, which will alleviate regional differences in the future.