The Impact of Multi-Dimensional Vectors on China’s Agricultural Products Export: Based on fsQCA

Abstract

Since 2004, China has been experiencing persistent and significant agricultural trade deficits. The longstanding unfavorable balance has induced a series of problems that require urgent attention. The fundamental approach to narrow the agricultural trade gap is to increase agricultural exports. Based on the cultural, institutional, geographical, and economic theoretical framework and using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis configurational approach, this study clarifies the configurational paths of the impact of multi-dimensional vectors on China’s agricultural exports in recent years. The findings show that (1) the multi-dimensional vectors configuration paths from 2016 to 2020 have certain similarities, and the impact paths are relatively stable; (2) the configuration paths of multi-dimensional vectors are different when comparison involves’ China’s high-level and non-high-level agricultural exports; (3) all the four vectors simultaneously affect high-level agricultural exports; and the absence of cultural and institutional vectors influence China’s non-high-level agricultural exports. Therefore, policymakers should note that one size does not fit all in promoting agricultural exports and that improving the overseas dissemination of a country’s culture and its institutional policies can greatly increase agricultural exports.