Abstract:Based on the provincial panel data of mainland China, this paper uses the method of granger causality test for panel data to analyze the relationship between economic growth and illegal land use in the whole country and three regions (i.e., eastern, central and western region) of China during different periods since 1990s so as to provide scientific evidence for the governance of illegal land use. The result shows that firstly, at the national level, there is no significant causal relationship between economic growth and illegal land use from 1990 to 1996. However, from 1999 to 2006, mutual causality exists between economic growth rate and illegal land use at the first delaying period while economic growth rate is the cause of illegal land use at the second delaying period. From 2006 to 2013, economic growth is the granger cause of illegal land use at the first delaying period, while illegal land use is the granger cause of economic growth at the second delaying period. Secondly, in different periods of institution evolution, due to the differences in economic development and the preference of management policies on illegal land use, different causal relationships between economic growth and illegal land use exist in different regions and different periods. From 1990 to 1996, economic growth rate shows a significant cause of illegal land use in eastern China; in central China, a mutual causality exists between economic growth and illegal land use, while there is no significant causal relationship between that of western China. In the period of 19992006, illegal land use shows a significant cause of economic growth in eastern China, while in central China, the change rate of economic growth speed is a granger cause of illegal land use, and a mutual causality exists between economic growth rate and illegal land use in western China. From 2006 to 2013, mutual causality between economic growth rate and illegal land use only exists in western China. The study shows that different periods of economic development and economic goals may lead to different degrees of potential illegal land use. We can mitigate and curb illegal land use by improving land use efficiency, perfecting the legal system and regulatory mechanisms. Differentiated countermeasures should be taken to control illegal land use based on the relationship between economic growth and illegal land use in different regions.