Abstract:
Developing new quality productive forces (NQPF) in accordance with local conditions constitutes an inherent requirement and a key priority for promoting high-quality development, as well as a fundamental guideline for building a modernized nation. Clarifying the development level and spatiotemporal evolution of NQPF provides an essential basis for identifying its realization pathways. Based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces covering the period 2011–2023, this study constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system for NQPF from three dimensions—new elements, new structures, and new characteristics—and examines its spatiotemporal evolution. The results show that: (1) the development level of NQPF in China exhibits a steady upward trend overall; spatially, it displays a declining gradient from the eastern to the central and western, and further to the northeastern regions, indicating significant regional imbalance. (2) In terms of disparity sources, the dominant driver of variation has shifted from inter-regional differences to intra-regional differences over time. Based on these findings, this study proposes a multidimensional framework for fostering NQPF, which emphasizes the coordination of domestic and external drivers, the integration of efficient markets with a proactive government, and the alignment between finance and the real economy, so as to further promote the development of NQPF.