Research on the factors and path of sports industry development in China: A fsQCA study of 31 provinces

Yi Shi, Qingyao Song and Lin Li

PLOS ONE, 2024, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: The advancement of the sports industry’s development constitutes a critical concern shared by regional authorities and the scholarly community, reflecting its significant role in economic and social development. This study employs a Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) methodology to examine the 31 provincial-level administrative units in China. The objective is to elucidate the influence of technological, organizational, and environmental factors on the industry’s development level, considering both a holistic national framework and dissected regional approaches (Eastern, Central, and Western China). This paper’s contribution to the literature is structured around the following core findings: (1) The study establishes that a singular condition does not suffice as an essential prerequisite for achieving a heightened development state within the sports industry. (2) At the national level, there are three pathways to enhance the development level of the sports industry, specifically identified as "network-human resources dominant pathway," "technological innovation-human resources dominant pathway," and "comprehensive synergistic pathway."(3) From a regional perspective, the Eastern region has two pathways for sports industry enhancement: "network-economic pathway" and "comprehensive synergistic pathway." The Central region follows a "technology pathway," while the Western region has three pathways: "organization-environment pathway," "network-organization-environment pathway," and "organization pathway."(4) The synthesis of these findings underscores the multifactorial nature of sports industry development, suggesting a paradigm where diverse routes can lead to equivalent outcomes. This heterogeneity indicates that provinces or regions can tailor their development strategies to their unique situational contexts.

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0298167

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298167

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