RESUMO
By using coupling coordinated degree model, scissors difference methods, and coupling degree model, this paper analyzed the coupling coordinated status, development speed difference, and coupling development trend between economic and environmental systems in Shenyang Metropolitan Area in 1990-2009. In the study period, the coupling level of the relations between economic and environmental development was ascending, with the coupling degree increased from 0.42 to 0.89, which reflected the more and more harmonious relationships between economy and environment. The decrease of economic development speed and the increase of environmental construction speed reduced the scissor difference of the two systems from 0.63 degrees to 0.22 degrees, demonstrating the contribution of the economic development speed to the coupling coordinated status. The coupling degree between the economic and environmental systems stretched across in a [45 degrees, 90 degrees] region, which meant that the two systems were in a co-developing status. As the discrepancy between the development speeds of the two systems became smaller, the coupling degree was closer to 45 degrees, and the two systems were becoming better coordinated.