The total mileage of highways in China ranks first in the world and constitutes an important symbol of China’s modernization. Economists, however, continue to debate whether highways always promote economic growth in every region and how to assess the impact. In this paper, we first use the OD-MATRIX method to calculate the shortest highway traveling time among 332 prefecture-level cities in China from 2000 to 2013. It is shown that the reduction of traveling time brought by highway construction significantly improves enterprise productivity. Second, to further explore the mechanism at work, we apply market potential approach to examine its effect on productivity. It is found that on average, the enhanced market potential induced by highway construction in China positively affect enterprise productivity. Finally, we calculate urban centrality via the space gravity model and conduct a sample regression according to the rank of urban centrality. Interestingly, we find that the impact of highways on productivity varies depending on cities’ degree of urban centrality. Highways have a positive impact in high-centrality cities but a negative impact in low-centrality cities. This correlation can be explained, in turn, by factors that include labor and capital flow from low-centrality cities to high-centrality cities.

Purpose: Footwork speed is closely linked to explosive strength, and both percentage- (PBRT) and velocity-based resistance training (VBRT) are popular methods for developing muscle strength. This study aimed to compare the effects of PBRT and VBRT on lower limb explosive power and footwork movement speed in elite university badminton players over a 6-week training period. Methods: A total of 20 elite badminton players (12 males, 8 females) from Tongji University were randomly divided into VBRT (n = 10) and PBRT groups (n = 10). The VBRT group trained with loads determined by target speed and velocity loss, while the PBRT participants used fixed loads based on a percentage of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). Both the groups performed free-weight back squats with relative loads ranging from 65% to 95% of 1RM over 6 weeks. The pre- and post-training measurements included back squat 1RM; countermovement (CMJ), squat (SJ), and standing long jumps (SLJs); self-weighted squat jump speed (SJS); left and right touch line (LRF), full-field four-point (FF), and front and back touch net footwork (FBF). Results: (1) The baseline measurements showed no significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05). (2) Post-training, both VBRT and PBRT improved the participants’ lower limb explosive power and footwork movement (p < 0.05). (3) The VBRT group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the PBRT group in all the measures (p < 0.05). Conclusions: VBRT was superior to PBRT in boosting lower limb explosive power and footwork speed in badminton players over 6 weeks, leading to more significant strength–related and neural adaptations.

With the adoption of the concept of sustainable development, mega sports events (MSEs) are gradually aiming to be greener and to lower their carbon footprints. As such, does the hosting of MSEs provide an opportunity for urban green transformation? Taking MSEs in China as a quasi-natural experiment and using prefecture-level panel data from 2000 to 2020, we empirically explored the effects and mechanisms of MSE hosting on the green economic development in urban areas by applying a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The findings revealed that the hosting of MSEs can significantly increase the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of the host city, indicating that MSEs promote the green transformation of urban areas. The results of the mechanism analysis showed that hosting MSEs promotes urban green transformation through three channels: encouraging residents to choose public transport, promoting the development of the digital economy, and upgrading of the industrial structure. In addition, the effect of hosting MSEs on green transformation is stronger in cities where the public is more concerned about the environment. We argue that host city governments should implement the concept of green sports when organizing MSEs, increase public concern about the environment, focus on the development of urban public services, and vigorously develop tertiary industries to drive urban green transformations.