This paper explores the role of informal institutions in shaping China's export dynamics by examining dialect diversity as a proxy for regional cultural variation. Extending a heterogeneous firm trade model, we show theoretically that dialect diversity exacerbates market segmentation, which in turn promotes export expansion. Empirical evidence from matched firm-level customs and financial data supports the mechanism. The effect arises not from proactive innovation or competitiveness gains, but from firms' passive adaptation to fragmented domestic markets to avoid costs associated with institutional frictions. The findings underscore the dual role of dialect culture - both as a barrier and as an adaptive force - and highlight the need to balance linguistic unification with cultural preservation to sustain high-quality export growth.
Physical development is a key foundation for early learning, yet the respective roles of physical fitness and outdoor activity remain unclear in under-resourced settings. Using data from 2,371 rural preschoolers in China, this study examined how these two dimensions relate to cognitive outcomes. Regression analyses showed that higher physical fitness was significantly associated with better performance in composite cognition (beta = 0.017, p < 0.01), approaches to learning (beta = 0.015, p < 0.01), and numeracy and concepts (beta = 0.027, p < 0.01). In contrast, outdoor activity displayed narrower, domain-specific associations, with longer duration linked only to approaches to learning (beta = 0.013, p < 0.01). Further analyses indicated that children's health, social functioning, and socio-emotional skills partly explained these associations, suggesting behavioral and adaptive pathways rather than direct physiological mechanisms. The associations between physical fitness and cognitive outcomes were particularly pronounced among children from disadvantaged families, suggesting a potential compensatory effect of physical fitness in less advantaged developmental contexts.
