Data Sheet 1_Efficiency and determinants of science and technology investment in Chinese competitive sports: a provincial DEA-Tobit analysis.zip

IntroductionThe efficiency with which science and technology (S&T) investment is translated into competitive sports performance is a critical yet underexplored issue in China, despite the rapid growth of related funding in recent years.
MethodsThis study evaluates the efficiency of provincial S&T investment in competitive sports across 31 Chinese provinces from 2018 to 2022. Using a two-stage analytical framework grounded in the Resource-Based View, we integrate Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), the Malmquist productivity index, and Tobit regression to assess static efficiency, dynamic productivity changes, and their key influencing factors.
ResultsThe results indicate that the overall efficiency of S&T investment in China's competitive sports system remains relatively low, with pronounced regional disparities. Dynamic analysis reveals that total factor productivity declined on average, primarily due to limited technological progress rather than changes in technical efficiency. Tobit regression results show that research staff input and the emphasis on technological R&D are negatively associated with efficiency, while regional economic development improves pure technical efficiency but undermines scale efficiency.
ConclusionThese findings suggest that the main constraint on the effectiveness of S&T investment lies not in the quantity of resources but in their strategic configuration and conversion into athletic outcomes. Policy efforts should therefore shift from expanding investment scale toward optimizing resource orchestration and strengthening the linkage between scientific research and training practice to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of competitive sports development in China.