Performance Evaluation of Rural Characteristic Industry Development in Metropolitan Areas Based on the Topsis Method—Taking the Xi'an Metropolitan Area as an Example

The coordinated development of urban and rural areas is an important measure for releasing the potential of domestic demand and promoting industrial upgrading. The development of rural industries in metropolitan areas, especially those with rural characteristics, is an important pathway for achieving comprehensive rural revitalization and promoting urban and rural integration in the metropolitan area. Based on the development goal of promoting rural industries in metropolitan areas, this study constructed a performance evaluation index system, including industrial development, industrial integration, rural construction, and farmers' life, and applied the TOPSIS method to evaluate the development of rural characteristic industries in the metropolitan area of Xi'an. The results indicated that the overall development performance of rural characteristic industries in the metropolitan area was at a medium level. The developmental performance at the level of “primary industry-secondary industry-tertiary industry” integration was relatively good, with a certain extension of the industrial chain and expansion of industrial functions, and certain economic benefits were created in this process. However, the development of rural characteristic industries has not effectively driven the development of rural society. In terms of space, the development of rural characteristic industries in the metropolitan area presents a circular distribution feature that decreases from the core circle to the outer circle. In terms of types, there are significant differences in the development levels between the different types, and the weaknesses of different industries vary. Based on these considerations, the key pathway for the collaborative and typified development of regional characteristic industries is proposed.