The Measurement of Material Flow of China’s Economic SystemBased on Physical Input-Output Table
PING Wei-ying1,2
1.School of Statistics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China; 2.Applied Statistics Research Center, Nanchang 330013, China
Abstract:
The general physical input-output table has been revised in this paper. The revision included adjusting the sector classification and basic assumptions based on the principle of operability and setting up the resource recovery sector to reflect material recycling. According to the existing database of China, the material stock of the economic system of China from 2004 to 2015 is estimated. Then the material consumption coefficient and the material cycling efficiency are systematically analyzed following a measurement of the material flow among internal sectors of the economic system. The results show that the change of material consumption coefficient at sector level is not obvious, but the utility effect of initial material input shows a good trend overall and the efficiency of material recycling increases. The current environmental pressure in China does not ease the trend. It is necessary to further strengthen the regulation of the total material flow and the material circulation structure at the macro level. The efficiency of material utilization should be increased and the recycling and reuse of waste materials should be promoted.