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Copyright of Journal of Technology Economics is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the context of global carbon emissions and climate change, identifying context-specific low-carbon pathways for urban areas is critical for achieving socio-environmental sustainability. This study applies the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework to examine the driving mechanisms and the diversity in carbon reduction pathways across 81 cities in China. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA), this research assesses the roles of technological, organizational, and environmental drivers in urban carbon reduction. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is employed to uncover distinct carbon reduction pathways and causal asymmetries between cities. The findings reveal that technological, organizational, and environmental factors significantly drive carbon reduction, with technological and organizational factors playing the central roles. Environmental factors exert primarily indirect effects, interacting with technological and organizational drivers. This study categorizes cities into three distinct carbon reduction models: cities with high carbon-neutral potential primarily leverage technological innovation and energy efficiency optimization; cities with moderate potential integrate technology and policy, emphasizing green landscape planning to achieve balanced development; and cities with lower carbon reduction potential are mainly policy-driven, constrained by technological and resource limitations. This study underscores the role of computational modeling in providing valuable insights for the development of context-tailored carbon reduction strategies. It highlights the synergetic interactions among technological, organizational, and environmental factors, offering essential guidance for advancing sustainable development planning and facilitating the low-carbon transition of cities and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-point source pollution is a severe environmental problem in emerging countries (e.g., China). Many studies have examined farmers' ecological production behaviors (EPBs) concerning land protection, agricultural transformation, and environmental development. Despite a growing emphasis on shaping livelihood capitals to improve farmers' EPBs, it remains unclear how different combinations of livelihood capitals contribute to farmers' EPBs. To bridge this knowledge gap, we explore the effects of different configurations of five livelihood capitals on farmers' EPBs based on the sustainable livelihood framework. After collecting farmer survey data in Hubei province (a major grain-producing region in Central China), we evaluated the ecological production effect of different livelihood capital configurations using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results show that three combinations of livelihood capitals predict high EPBs of farmers. Specifically, the high adoption of EPBs is expected for farmers with a negation of natural capital but sufficient social capital (configuration 1: social capital dominant-driven configuration), good human and financial capital combined with the negation of natural and physical capital (configuration 2: human–financial capital integrated-driven configuration), and human, physical, and social capital combined with the negation of financial capital (configuration 3: human–physical–social capital combined-driven configuration). We examined how livelihood capital configurations affect ecological production by adopting a theoretical and empirical approach in sustainable land use. Consequently, tailored policy recommendations should be implemented to enhance sustainable socio-economic development in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the global development of social enterprises (SEs) over the past three decades, how to improve sustainability remains a challenging issue for most SEs. Although SE ecosystems have been recognized as crucial determinants of SE sustainability performance in the current literature, no empirical study has comprehensively examined the relationships among them. Additionally, prior studies have demonstrated that sustainability performance might vary among SEs of different revenue structures or across different contexts, suggesting that more attention should be devoted to the complexity of the causal mechanisms determining SE sustainability performance. To address these gaps in the current literature, this paper examines the complex, divergent, and asymmetric causal links among SE ecosystems, revenue structures, and the sustainability performance of SEs in China by conducting fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of 274 typical cases of SEs. The results revealed alternative configurations for high and low levels of sustainability performance among SEs of different revenue structures. First, the fsQCA results indicated that SE sustainability performance was not determined by the impacts of single components of SE ecosystems but rather by the combined effects of multiple elements. Second, for SEs of divergent revenue structures, causal paths leading to high or low levels of sustainability performance showed notable discrepancies in terms of both number and composition. Specifically, commercial SEs receiving income mainly from market-based earned income were more likely to achieve higher levels of social and financial sustainability because of greater adaptability to SE ecosystems and less environmental dependence. Third, the impacts of different components of SE ecosystems on sustainable performance also varied with SE revenue structures. Three categories of components—policy environment, sociocultural setting, and industrial infrastructure—made more important contributions to SE sustainability performance in both the social and financial dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance emergency management and public opinion governance, improve the accuracy of forecasting group emotional responses, and elucidate the complex pathways of multi-factor coupling in the formation of group emotions, this study constructs a theoretical framework grounded in the social combustion theory. Through web scraping and text sentiment analysis, group emotional tendencies were measured in 40 public emergency cases from the past five years. Using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method, the study explored the coupling, configuration effect, and formation pathways of factors such as "burning substance", "accelerant", and "ignition" in the emergence of group emotions. The results reveal significant differences in the generation pathways of positive versus negative group emotion. Inter-group threat as a "burning substance" is more likely to trigger negative group emotion, while "accelerant" plays a pivotal role in shaping and guiding emotional responses. Notably, the government's response speed is critical for fostering positive emotions, whereas the emergence of rumors significantly contributes to the spread of negative group emotions. Additionally, the occurrence of stimulating events markedly increases the generation of negative group emotions. This study provides an important theoretical foundation and practical insights for the management and regulation of group emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Early childhood is a sensitive period for the development of agility and balance quality. Currently, children’s agility and balance quality are gradually declining, and the pathways for enhancing these qualities are limited. In light of this, the study adopts a set theory perspective to explore the configurational pathways through which subsystems of gross motor skills can promote children’s agility and balance quality. Methods This study incorporates test data from 84 children aged 3 to 6 years, employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to examine how configurations of six subsystems within gross motor skills (running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking) influence the promotion of children’s agility and balance quality. Results Necessary condition analysis reveals that individual subsystems of gross motor skills alone cannot determine the promotion of agility and balance quality in children. Further configuration analyses identify two paths for promoting agility quality ( Overall Consistency = 0.889, Overall Coverage = 0.337 ) and two paths for promoting balance quality ( Overall Consistency = 0.875, Overall Coverage = 0.346 ). Conclusion Subsystems of gross motor skills can promote children’s balance and agility quality through configurational effects. Specifically, promoting agility quality should primarily involve combined exercises of jumping, running, and catching actions, while promoting balance quality should focus on combined exercises of kicking, jumping, and running actions. Furthermore, prioritizing children’s balance quality can support the children’s agility quality. These findings offer important practical guidance for promoting children’s agility and balance quality.

Background: Early childhood is a sensitive period for the development of agility and balance quality. Currently, children’s agility and balance quality are gradually declining, and the pathways for enhancing these qualities are limited. In light of this, the study adopts a set theory perspective to explore the configurational pathways through which subsystems of gross motor skills can promote children’s agility and balance quality. Methods: This study incorporates test data from 84 children aged 3 to 6 years, employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to examine how configurations of six subsystems within gross motor skills (running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking) influence the promotion of children’s agility and balance quality. Results: Necessary condition analysis reveals that individual subsystems of gross motor skills alone cannot determine the promotion of agility and balance quality in children. Further configuration analyses identify two paths for promoting agility quality (Overall Consistency = 0.889, Overall Coverage = 0.337) and two paths for promoting balance quality (Overall Consistency = 0.875, Overall Coverage = 0.346). Conclusion: Subsystems of gross motor skills can promote children’s balance and agility quality through configurational effects. Specifically, promoting agility quality should primarily involve combined exercises of jumping, running, and catching actions, while promoting balance quality should focus on combined exercises of kicking, jumping, and running actions. Furthermore, prioritizing children’s balance quality can support the children’s agility quality. These findings offer important practical guidance for promoting children’s agility and balance quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networking sites (SNSs) have emerged as parallel societies, providing individuals with a platform to interact with peers and construct their desired self-identities. However, maintaining a positive image and safeguarding oneself from social judgment often necessitate self-censorship in self-identity expression. Drawing upon the privacy calculus theory, this study investigates how SNS users engage in a rational cost–benefit analysis between peer privacy concerns and self-presentation when deciding whether to actively or passively use SNSs. Findings from a variance-based analysis—partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)—to a sample of 394 Facebook users revealed that active use was primarily driven by perceived benefits, while passive use was triggered by perceived privacy costs. However, employing a case-based analysis—fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the present study uncovered that while some SNS users do not conform to the privacy calculus, many others do, thereby confirming the proposed dual privacy calculus model for SNS use. These findings resolve the contradictory findings from previous research on the privacy calculus model. This study extends the literature on the privacy calculus theory by developing a dual peer privacy calculus model to understand SNS users' passive and active uses and validate the significance of peer privacy concerns on these behavioral patterns. This study underscores critical factors influencing SNS usage patterns, empowering platform developers to provide users with effective tools to combat privacy violations by peers, thereby promoting increased active engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the various channels through which the tourism ecosystem can affect green development, utilizing a configurational approach to identify underlying mechanisms. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis and necessary condition analysis are employed. The findings reveal that tourism does not act as either a necessary component or bottleneck to green development. Four models of tourism-driven high green development are identified including migration-based, growth-based, government-led tourism-driven, and government-led non-tourism-driven. Additionally, the causal relationship between tourism and green development is apparent primarily in less economically-developed regions. The study affirms the asymmetric causal impact of tourism on green development and presents a systematic and in-depth understanding of the asymmetric multivariate pathways that tourism can use to promote green development. These findings represent a significant contribution to the current literature and offer new perspectives for the field of sustainable tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda underscores the vital role of local authorities and civil society in implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Aligning with this agenda, the EU's spatial development framework imparts normative values, emphasizing sustainable territorial development, participatory governance, and multi‐level cooperation. This framework serves as a potential facilitator for spatial planning to ensure policy coherence in SDG implementation. Despite its potential, mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda through spatial planning encounters challenges, particularly navigating unresolved tensions between global SDG formulation and local ownership. These challenges are accentuated in countries with conformative planning systems and weak governance structures, requiring a specific methodological approach. To address these complexities, this study investigates the opportunities for leveraging SDGs within the multi‐level governance arena of spatial planning. Employing mixed quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods in a local planning context, the research explores key concerns arising from regional, national, and EU spatial development policies. The study delves into their potential leverage capacity for guiding and funding SDGs within a specific local context. Results suggest that using different policy mechanisms, spatial planning can better address the holistic nature of the 2030 Agenda. Although not all SDGs can be leveraged, a substantial part can be addressed whenever a broader multi‐level governance perspective is considered within local planning contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes to investigate tourism performance by employing fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. International tourist destinations are examined to identify the different paths leading to high levels of tourism arrivals and tourism receipts. The findings demonstrate that tourism performance is complex and requires specific combinations of conditions to succeed. The research identifies two types of destinations that rely on different factors to achieve success: Type 1 focuses on price competitiveness, while Type 2 emphasises the quality of the experience. Furthermore, it shows that a peculiar destination performs well in terms of receipts, relying on both price competitiveness and quality of the experience despite a lack of attractions. Type 1 and Type 2 destinations have good predictive validity in a pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In major emergencies, psychological crisis intervention plays a critical role in safeguarding public mental health and supporting post-disaster recovery. However, uneven resource allocation underscores the urgent need for more efficient resource integration pathways. This study, based on data from Chinese governmental and health departmental reports in 2022, employs a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to evaluate the efficiency of psychological crisis intervention resource integration across various regions. It investigates the combined effects of internal and external factors on improving integration efficiency through a configurational approach. The findings reveal that while the overall efficiency of resource integration is relatively high, there are notable differences between institutions. The analysis identifies five key pathways: policy support-driven (H1), professional capability-driven (H2), comprehensive synergy-driven (H3), resource optimization (NH1), and community empowerment (NH2). Despite regional disparities, effectively integrating key resources can enhance overall efficiency. Coordinating internal and external factors and optimizing essential resources are crucial for improving the effectiveness of psychological crisis interventions. This research offers actionable insights into integration strategies to strengthen psychological crisis intervention during emergencies. The findings also provide practical solutions to improve disaster preparedness and intervention efficiency, addressing a key gap in crisis resource management research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of e-Education Research is the property of Northwest Normal University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the context of China's rural revitalization strategy, the significance of county economic development cannot be overstated. Aligning county economic development with the deeper implications of this strategy is a pressing concern for governments at every level. This study, drawing from the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, employs the fs-QCA method to elucidate the causal mechanisms underpinning high-quality county-level economic development. Utilizing data from 57 counties in an agricultural province in China, this research investigates the interplay between antecedent conditions and county economic development, delineating distinct developmental pathways that yield optimal outcomes. The findings reveal that, (1) no singular condition suffices to attain superior county economic development; rather, it emerges from the confluence of multiple factors. (2) Four distinct pathways, technology-led industry-pull, technology-driven government-supported, all-factor linkage, and technology-organized balanced, are instrumental in achieving high-level county economic development. (3) Substitutional relationships exist among the antecedent conditions. These insights deepen our comprehension of the multifaceted determinants influencing county economic growth. By highlighting the interdependencies among these conditions, this research offers valuable perspectives that can guide the formulation of pragmatic, synergistic policies, paving the way for efficient county economic developmental trajectories. Plain Language Summary: Purpose: The study aimed to comprehend the intricacies of county-level economic development in China, particularly in light of China's emphasis on rural rejuvenation. Methods: The research utilized an analytical approach known as the fs-QCA to discern how various elements, including technological advancements and organizational structures, influence county economic trajectories. For this examination, data from 57 counties in an agrarian province of China were scrutinized. Conclusions: Several notable conclusions were drawn. Firstly, there isn't a singular determinant that exclusively boosts county economic development. Instead, prosperity appears to arise from a harmonious interplay of multiple determinants. Four specific combinations or "pathways" of these determinants leading to economic success were identified. Implications: The findings of this research offer profound insights for policymakers and stakeholders. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and leveraging the interdependence of multiple factors when devising strategies for economic enhancement at the county level. Limitations: The data encompasses only 57 counties from a specific province, and observations are derived from a single year. Consequently, these results might not be universally applicable, nor do they capture the dynamic evolution of economies over time. It is advisable for future research endeavors to encompass a broader geographical scope and extended time frames to furnish a more holistic understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to obtain governance strategies for managing the complexity of megaprojects by analyzing the impact of individual factors and their configurations using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method and to provide references for project managers. Design/methodology/approach: With the continuous development of the economy, society and construction industry, the number and scale of megaprojects are increasing, and the complexity is becoming serious. Based on the relevant literature, the factors affecting the complexity of megaprojects are determined through case analysis, and the paths of factors affecting the complexity are constructed for megaprojects. Then, the fsQCA method is used to analyze the factors affecting the complexity of megaprojects through 245 valid questionnaires from project engineers in this study. Findings: The results support the correlation between the complexity factors of megaprojects, with six histological paths leading to high complexity and seven histological paths leading to low complexity. Originality/value: It breaks the limitations of the traditional project complexity field through a "configuration perspective" and concludes that megaproject complexity is a synergistic effect of multiple factors. The study is important for enriching the theory of megaproject complexity and providing complexity governance strategies for managers in megaproject decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking sustainable development, companies voluntarily implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach, considering economic, social and environmental aspects of interest to global society. Searching for sustainable development, the Circular Economy (CE) emerged as a new philosophy of life to meet the new challenges in society. This research links CSR and CE but considering jointly the Institutional and Stakeholder Theories to delimit the sustainable development framework from the EC approach driven by CSR. According to this framework, it was tested whether the CSR practices of companies positively and significantly impacts on a business orientation towards CE, through two models (Model A and Model B) each of them analyzed with two independent samples of companies in Spain. Both samples are composed of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at two different stages of CSR adoption. The hypotheses were analyzed through a structural equation modeling‐fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis (SEM‐fsQCA). The result of the SEM supports the hypothesis in both models. So, CSR practices are driving companies towards CE, incorporating propositions on stakeholders' value creation. Moreover, an fsQCA revealed combinations of relationships that ensure the consistency of obtained results, generating five configurations based on two models defined. Main contribution of this work is CSR practices of companies and their orientation towards CE can be linked. This encourages to deep in analysis about the relations between CE and CSR, and of the specific CSR practices that should be enhanced for their beneficial effect on the implementation of CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] In the context of high-quality development of the rice industry, analyzing the spatial and temporal trends and differences in rice production efficiency in China under resource and environmental constraints is of great value in exploring the improvement of rice production efficiency in the future and promoting the green and sustainable development of rice production. [Methods] Drawing on China’s comprehensive rice input-output panel data from 2009 to 2021, and using the window DEA analysis method based on the super efficiency SBM model and the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method, this study examine the rice production efficiency and improvement path considering climate and pollution emission under resource and environmental constraints. [Results] The research showed that: (1) Rice production efficiency across the nation was generally at a commendably high level. Round-grained rice demonstrated the highest efficiency (1.0089), followed by rearly indica rice (1.0065), medium indica rice (0.9769), and late indica rice (0.9380), and the proportion of early, medium, late indica rice and round-grained rice with relatively efficient average productivity was 77.78%, 76.92%, 67.13%, and 58.12% of all years, respectively. The average annual carbon emissions from rice production showed an inverted U-shaped trend. Concomitantly, the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution index of rice production remained conspicuously high. (2) Overall, regional differences in production efficiency were significant across China’s six principal rice paddy regions. The average value of rice production efficiency in central, northwestern and southwestern rice paddy region is higher than the national average, that in northeastern and southern rice paddy region is lower than the national average, and that in northern rice paddy region is higher than the national average for medium indica rice and lower than the national average for round-grained rice. (3) From the perspective of grouping patterns, six paths to improve production efficiency were found, and the three main paths to improve rice production efficiency are: technology-oriented, market-driven, and talent-led. [Conclusion] Increasing the prevention of source pollution, taking advantage of efficient rice paddy regions and providing high level of technical agricultural services are important paths to improving the efficiency of rice production.

Member states use implementation to preserve core state powers, such as fiscal policy, vis-à-vis the European Union (EU), by choosing whether to adopt stricter or looser rules than the EU requires. However, these choices and their reasons when the EU extends its fiscal competences are understudied. We theorise how the interplay of uploading and downloading factors might lead member states to customise EU fiscal policy according to their preferences, if their capacity allows it. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, we study the customisation of six rules of the Fiscal Compact in France, Germany and Italy in 2012 (N = 18). Member states exercised 'opposition through the back door' when uploading outcomes did not reflect their preferences and did not provide a credible deterrent. More often, however, member states as 'customisers' acted as especially ambitious problem-solvers or signalled compliance, when uploading outcomes reflected their preferences or provided a credible enforcement threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to deepen the knowledge of the factors that explain the existence and non-existence of Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) among people with disabilities. To achieve this objective, we integrate resilience and perceived collective efficacy into the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. We collected data from a sample of 235 people with disabilities and examined the variables included in the TPB, as well as the role of resilience and perceived collective efficacy as predictors of EI. To investigate whether these variables help to explain EI among people with disabilities, we used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis with theory testing. Our findings highlight the complexity of the entrepreneurial journey for people with disabilities. We show that the components of the TPB are essential in shaping the EI of this population. Furthermore, the inclusion of resilience and perceived collective efficacy complements the need for the other two TPB components (perceived behavioral control and subjective norm). Few studies have examined ways to enhance EI in people with disabilities, and even fewer have examined the variables that influence the presence or absence of EI in people with disabilities. Our study contributes to this gap in the literature, and has important implications for policymakers and practitioners working to promote entrepreneurship among people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage crowdsourcing has emerged as a promising approach to address the challenges of digitizing and preserving cultural heritage, contributing to the sustainable development goals of cultural preservation and digital inclusivity. However, the long-term sustainability of these projects faces numerous obstacles. This study explores the key configurational determinants and dynamic evolutionary mechanisms driving the sustainable development of cultural heritage crowdsourcing projects, aiming to enhance their longevity and impact. An innovative integration of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and system dynamics (SD) is employed, drawing upon a "resource coordination–stakeholder interaction–value co-creation" analytical framework. Through a multi-case comparison of 18 cultural heritage crowdsourcing projects, we identify necessary conditions for project sustainability, including platform support, data resources, knowledge capital, and digitalization performance. The study reveals multiple sufficient pathways to sustainability through configurational combinations of participant motivation, innovation drive, social capital, and social impact. Our system dynamics analysis demonstrates that crowdsourcing project sustainability exhibits significant nonlinear dynamic characteristics, influenced by the interaction and emergent effects of the resource–participation–performance chain. This research offers both theoretical insights and practical guidance for optimizing crowdsourcing mechanisms and sustainable project operations, contributing to the broader goals of sustainable cultural heritage preservation and digital humanities development. The findings provide a roadmap for policymakers and project managers to design and implement more sustainable and impactful cultural heritage crowdsourcing initiatives, aligning with global sustainability objectives in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Educational Science of Hunan Normal University is the property of Hunan Normal University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Purpose/Significance] Virtual communities of interest have rapidly become key sources of information that significantly influence users' decision making. Characterized by resource aggregation, active exchanges, and high interactivity, these communities foster a unique environment that encourages strong user engagement. Understanding the factors that influence information adoption in these settings is essential to meeting user needs and enhancing community management and services. Unlike traditional information contexts, virtual communities emphasize user trust, emotional support, and community identity, which are critical in shaping how users perceive and adopt information. This study aims to deepen the theoretical understanding of information adoption in virtual communities of interest by incorporating information ecology theory and applying both structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). This dual-method approach enables in-depth analysis of individual factors and reveals complex configurations that influence adoption behaviors, providing insights that go beyond what SEM alone can provide. [Method/Process] The research model is based on information ecology theory, which provides a holistic framework that captures the dynamic interplay between factors such as information quality, user support systems, community structures, and platform features. This theory is particularly suited to the study of virtual communities, where multiple interdependent factors create a unique decision making environment. SEM is used to assess linear relationships between variables, evaluating the influence of information quality, emotional support, community identity, opinion leader participation, content interaction, source credibility, and platform usability on users' information adoption intentions. As a complement to SEM, fsQCA is used to explore configurations of multiple factors, identify pathways through which these factors collectively shape adoption intentions, and capture complex causal relationships that SEM does not address. [Results/Conclusions] The SEM analysis shows that information quality, emotional support, community identity, active participation of opinion leaders, and content interaction significantly increase users' adoption intentions, while information source credibility and platform usability do not. These findings suggest that community-driven aspects may be more important to users in this context than traditional credibility indicators. The fsQCA results further identify two primary modes that drive adoption intentions: a trust-driven mode, where adoption is supported by trust-related factors, and an experience-promoting mode, which focuses on user engagement within the community. Together, these modes comprise six distinct configurations, suggesting that users' adoption intentions are influenced by combinations of factors rather than isolated variables. This study thus highlights the unique value of fsQCA in uncovering the complex interplay of factors in virtual communities and providing detailed insights into user behavior. Future research could explore cultural differences in adoption behaviors and additional factors influencing user engagement in different types of virtual communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The marine economy has played an important role in stabilizing national economic growth and ensuring economic security. Achieving high-quality and sustainable development of the marine economy is a strategic task for China to build a maritime power. Confronting various risk factors such as financial crises, natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, industrial transformation, and public health security, etc., marine economic resilience (MER) has received widespread attention in recent years and is considered to be crucial for high-quality and sustainable development of the marine economy. Methods: This study takes 11 coastal provinces in China as cases, integrates 6 condition variables by building a Resistance capability-Recovery capability-Renewal capability (3R) configuration model, and uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach to empirically explore the configuration effect between multiple land factors and MER. Results and discussion: (1) None of the 6 conditions in the three dimensions of resistance capability, recovery capability, and renewal capability alone constitute the necessary conditions for strong or weak MER, indicating that a single condition has weak explanatory power for MER; (2) There are two configurations for strong MER: Strong Resistance-Recovery Type and Comprehensive Strong Type. Industrial structure, governmental capability, and digital economy are the core conditions for strong MER configurations; (3) There are four weak MER configurations: Comprehensive Weak Type, Weak Recovery-Renewal Type, Weak Resistance-Recovery Type I, and Weak Resistance-Recovery Type II. This studymay expand the research scope of MER influencing factors and enriching the research perspective of land-sea integration, as well as providing decision-makers with practical policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism competitiveness has always been a crucial aspect of tourism research. With the emergence of the digital economy, it is important to understand how this new form of economic activity impacts tourism competitiveness. This paper utilizes the configurational theory of systems thinking to examine the complex causal impact of the digital economy on tourism competitiveness. The paper finds that none of the digital economy variables are necessary for tourism competitiveness. There are two basic paths for the digital economy to drive high tourist destination competitiveness: dual-driven model of digital infrastructure and finance occurring in less developed regions and digital regulation-led dual-driven model of digital innovation and finance occurring in developed regions. The reliability of the findings is confirmed by rigorous robustness tests. This research furnishes critical insights into the digital economy and tourism competitiveness theories and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hidden champions are SMEs with strong global competitiveness in specialized fields but low profile. China's hidden champions show less internationalization compared to their global peers, despite niche market dominance. Consequently, an exploration of the internationalization trajectories and determinants for China's hidden champions is essential. This study utilizes fsQCA to investigate the internationalization strategies of 91 hidden champions, from China, using the "Efficiency-Structure-Environment" analytical framework. Five principal causal pathways for international operations are illustrated, categorized into three main driving models: "Efficiency-Environment,""Efficiency-Structure," and "System Interaction," with the first model being the most dominant. The study further classifies hidden champions by ownership, finding that both state-owned and private enterprises predominantly follow the "Efficiency-Structure" driving model. Additionally, when classified by certification types, all categories are found to align with the "System Integration" model. Notably, the international path for cultivation hidden champions is also well-explained by the "Efficiency Dominance" model. Lastly, the study delineates industry-specific models: general equipment manufacturers employ the "Efficiency-Structure" model, special equipment manufacturers use the "Structure-Environment" model, and the computer industry follows the "System Integration" model. Plain language summary: The international operations of China's hidden champions This research focuses on China's hidden champions, which are small and competitive companies in specific fields that are not widely known. Despite their success in niche markets, these companies have not expanded internationally as their global counterparts. To understand why, the study examines the international strategies of 91 hidden champions using a method called fsQCA. The findings reveal five main paths that lead to internationalization, driven primarily by factors such as efficiency, the business environment, and organizational structure. The study also explores how ownership type and certification play a role in these strategies. Notably, it highlights different approaches for fostering the international growth of hidden champions. The research concludes by identifying industry-specific patterns, showing how companies in general equipment manufacturing, special equipment manufacturing, and the computer industry adopt distinct driving models for their international operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundSystem coordination is an effective way to achieve high-quality development, and the debate on the interaction between health investment and economic development is still ongoing. To strengthen previous research and offer feasible advice and references for relevant stakeholders, we provide empirical evidence for exploring intersystem coordination and enhancement pathways using data from China.MethodsBased on the data published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the current status of the interaction and coordination between health investment and economic development in China was measured by calculating the comprehensive evaluation index, relative development degree, and coupling coordination degree. Subsequently, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method was introduced to explore pathways for enhancing system interaction and coordination.ResultsThere are obvious inter-provincial and regional differences between health investment and economic development in China. Provinces in the west and north are lagging in economic development, while provinces in the east and south are lagging in health investment. There is a clear synergy between health investment and economic development, and there is still much room for improving the degree of coupling coordination between systems. The five conditional configurations derived from the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis yield three pathways for enhancing system coordination: a health expenditure-driven path, an economic development-driven path, and a balanced health investment and economic development-driven path.ConclusionHealth expenditure is sufficient for high coordination, and the level and equity of investment in health expenditure should be improved. The gross regional product is a necessary and sufficient condition for high coordination, and consideration must be given to strengthening the regional economic support capacity. Health investment and economic development can drive the coordinated development of the system in a balanced way. This enlightens us to give full play to the positive synergy between health investment and economic development based on promoting the benign interaction of subsystems.

In the context of global carbon emissions and climate change, identifying context-specific low-carbon pathways for urban areas is critical for achieving socio-environmental sustainability. This study applies the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework to examine the driving mechanisms and the diversity in carbon reduction pathways across 81 cities in China. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA), this research assesses the roles of technological, organizational, and environmental drivers in urban carbon reduction. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is employed to uncover distinct carbon reduction pathways and causal asymmetries between cities. The findings reveal that technological, organizational, and environmental factors significantly drive carbon reduction, with technological and organizational factors playing the central roles. Environmental factors exert primarily indirect effects, interacting with technological and organizational drivers. This study categorizes cities into three distinct carbon reduction models: cities with high carbon-neutral potential primarily leverage technological innovation and energy efficiency optimization; cities with moderate potential integrate technology and policy, emphasizing green landscape planning to achieve balanced development; and cities with lower carbon reduction potential are mainly policy-driven, constrained by technological and resource limitations. This study underscores the role of computational modeling in providing valuable insights for the development of context-tailored carbon reduction strategies. It highlights the synergetic interactions among technological, organizational, and environmental factors, offering essential guidance for advancing sustainable development planning and facilitating the low-carbon transition of cities and communities.

Attention on customer citizenship behavior (CCB) has increased markedly in recent years for both researchers and practitioners. However, existing research lacks deep understanding of the antecedents of CCB in social commerce, especially from the perspective of seller-consumer interaction relationships. Drawing on complexity theory, this study investigated the impacts of the causal configurations of three types of seller-consumer interaction relationships (experience of parasocial interaction (PSI), social interaction, and parasocial relationship (PSR)) on CCB in social commerce. To test this proposition, this study adopted fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on a sample of 380 experienced social commerce consumers. Our findings indicate that the combination of social interaction and PSR leads to a high CCB among social commerce consumers. Moreover, borrowing from social exchange theory, we further employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to reanalyze the research data. The PLS-SEM results are consistent with the fsQCA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple benefits of virtual experiments applied to science education depend heavily on science teachers' intentions to use them. The inducing mechanism is a process that combines different conditions of multiple factors. From the perspective of overall configuration, this study used the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method, based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2), to construct a causal explanation model of Chinese K-12 science teachers' intentions to use virtual experiments. Additionally, the snowball method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of 342 Chinese K-12 science teachers. The results show that different conditions of the seven factors, performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), facilitating conditions (FC), hedonic motivation (HM), price value (PV), and habit (H), do not have the necessary explanatory power for the results. Three paths for science teachers' high intentions to use virtual experiments were obtained by configuration analysis: Configuration 1 (PE*EE*SI*HM*PV*H), Configuration 2 (EE*SI*FC*PV*H), and Configuration 3 (PE*EE*FC*HM*H). These findings effectively broaden the scope of knowledge and interpretation of the original inductive mechanism of intentions to adopt technology. They provide theoretical and practical support for education departments to design more targeted programs to improve the ability of science teachers to apply virtual experiments in K-12 education. Finally, future research directions are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]