Regional Disparities in Medical Crowdfunding Outcomes and Their Microscopic Interpretion

Against the backdrop of advancing the Digital China and Healthy China strategies, a critical question in contemporary social governance is how digital technologies can alleviate imbalances in resource distribution and promote healthcare equity. This study analyzes 2057 medical crowdfunding projects on a major Chinese platform to systematically examine the relationship between crowdfunding outcomes and regional development levels. The findings reveal that:(1) the level of regional socioeconomic development significantly affects crowdfunding performance; (2) the relatively limited online donation capacity of help-seekers in underdeveloped regions is a key factor contributing to poorer fundraising outcomes; (3) however, crowdfunding projects in these regions exhibit stronger information diffusion capabilities, which partially mitigate their resource disadvantages; (4) once projects enter the broader public cyberspace, the effects of the digital divide diminish substantially, suggesting that platform technologies hold potential to reduce regional inequality. The study highlights the importance of enhancing the public visibility of crowdfunding initiatives from less developed areas to fully realize the equity-enhancing potential of digital technologies.