A Spatial Difference Study on China's E-Commerce Development Level
通过相关分析、因子分析和聚类分析，研究中国各省电子商务发展水平的空间差异，发现东部沿海高于西部内陆，且与区域经济有一定但不完全的相关性，为政府制定政策提供依据。
By applying a comprehensive research methodology of correlation analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis, this paper examined E-commerce development at a provincial level. The author first did a correlation analysis of some typical factors before making a cluster analysis about the E-commerce levels in the respective provinces in China.The assessment method of studying the E-commerce development level in different provinces in mainland China helps get a clear understanding about the current situation of E-commerce development and its spatial differences. Furthermore,it can also facilitate a horizontal comparison with different provinces in the same country, and accordingly, provide some scientific evidence for the government when making policies for E-commerce from a perspective of its spatial differences and economy development. This empirical study shows that there are significant regional differences in E-commerce levels, with the eastern coastal areas higher than those in the western inlands. What's more, E-commerce levels remain extensively unbalanced within various groups. E-commerce development level has a certain correlation with regional economy, but not in complete correlation.