The interplay of internal resources and external pressures in driving open government data use in Chinese cities

Abstract

Open Government Data (OGD) can help generate economic and social value. While previous studies have explored the factors influencing OGD use, they typically focus on either governmental internal or external aspects of OGD, seldom investigating both aspects and their combined impact simultaneously. This paper aims to analyze how combinations of government internal supply and external institutional pressure factors jointly shape the degree of OGD use by applying fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) across 278 cities. Our findings reveal that high OGD use is associated with configurations that blend strong technological capabilities, clear institutional frameworks, active leadership, and adequate financial support with external pressures from higher authorities and competitive environments. In contrast, low OGD use emerges in contexts marked by technological, financial, and data resource shortages, alongside a lack of leadership engagement. These insights highlight the pivotal role of balanced internal resource management and proactive engagement with external pressures in driving effective OGD use.