Does local official stress hurt regional economic development? Survey evidence from Chinese grassroot cadres

Abstract

Amid concerns that high levels of stress among local officials may impede effective governance and economic strategies, this study aims to explore the direct impact of such stress on efforts to enhance regional economic development. Thus, this study conducts interviews with 957 grassroots cadres, the local officials in western China, to examine the influence of their psychological stress on the initiative to promote regional economic development (hereafter shortened to the growth-promoting initiative), which reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between grassroots cadres' psychological stress and their growth-promoting initiatives. The sense of mission strengthens the relationship between stress and growth-enhancing initiative. Conversely, the psychological contract does not significantly affect this relationship. These findings provide valuable guidance for addressing the psychological stress of Chinese grassroot cadre, refining organizational management, tailoring incentive systems, and ultimately catalyzing regional economic development.