Exporting creative goods from China: Government support measures in the 13th and 14th five-year plans

The Journal of the New Economic Association. 2026. No. 2(71). P. 252–267.

Biryukova O. V., Slipchenko I. Y.

Abstract. The rapid expansion of creative industries plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable economic development and enhancing the global cultural footprint of exporting nations. Consequently, governments worldwide actively implement targeted mechanisms to stimulate creative exports. As the undisputed global leader in creative goods exports, China’s success stems from both its inherent comparative advantages and systematic state interventions. However, the specifi c quantitative impact of governmental support instruments on China’s creative export performance remains underexplored in existing literature. This study systematically examines the key fi scal and fi nancial support measures implemented during the 13th and 14th fi ve-year plans and assesses their infl uence on creative goods exports from 2016 to 2023. Utilizing a balanced panel regression approach across regional and product- level datasets, the analysis reveals that both VAT export rebates and direct government budget financing exert a statistically signifi cant positive effect on export volumes. Furthermore, the fi ndings highlight a pronounced geographic and structural concentration of exports, predominantly directed toward the United States and European markets. The study concludes that while current support policies have effectively bolstered export competitiveness, strategic optimization is required to mitigate regional disparities, encourage long-term sectoral diversifi cation, and reduce vulnerability to external market fl uctuations.

Keywords: creative industries, government support, export support, creative goods, Chinese export

Publication based on the results of: Analysis and Assessment of the Business Reputation Index of Enterprises in BRICS (2027)