External Resource Dependence and Implementation Efficiency of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): A Hybrid Design Based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)

Haoqun Yan and Hongfeng Zhang ()
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Haoqun Yan: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China
Hongfeng Zhang: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic University, Macao, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: Based on the urgency of education for sustainable development (ESD), it is crucial to explore ESD implementation efficiency. Since ESD is closely related to social resources, it is necessary to explore which resources can improve ESD implementation efficiency. This study employs dynamic qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to explore the multiple development pathways of external resources supporting the implementation efficiency of ESD in 31 provinces of China from 2017 to 2022. The results indicate that abundant basic resource- (Type I), complementary technology–culture resource- (Type II), and culture–information technology educational resource-driven (Type III) approaches are the main pathways to achieve high ESD execution efficiency. A key contribution of this study is its emphasis on the role of modern information technology in ESD. The insights garnered from this study can guide educators in leveraging information resources effectively to optimize ESD outcomes.

Keywords: education for sustainable development; resource dependence theory; dynamic QCA; DEA; configuration analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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