Empirical study on the coupling coordination degree of port logistics and regional economic resilience in the Greater Bay Area

This study empirically investigates the dynamic and interactive relationship between port logistics systems and regional economic resilience within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Utilising panel data from 11 GBA cities spanning 2013 to 2023, this paper constructs comprehensive indicator systems for both subsystems and employs the Entropy Weight Method to determine objective indicator weights. The core analysis is conducted using a Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model to quantify the level of synergy between the two systems. The findings reveal several key points: (1) The overall coordination level of the GBA is in a state of “mild imbalance,” with the average CCD value increasing from 0.335 in 2013 to 0.383 in 2023, indicating a gradual but slow improvement. (2) Significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity exists across the region; cities such as Macao and Guangzhou demonstrate higher levels of coordination, whereas others, including Zhaoqing and Zhongshan, lag behind. (3) The temporal evolution of the CCD reveals three distinct development archetypes among the cities: a high-coordination but vulnerable group, a rapid-riser group driven by innovation, and a steady-improver group from the periphery. This research provides a quantitative framework for understanding the complex interplay between logistics infrastructure and economic resilience, offering valuable policy insights for promoting sustainable and balanced regional development in the GBA.