Spatial Inequality and Policy Implications of School Physical Education Resource Allocation: Evidence From Shaanxi Province, China

Chengwei Xu¹Bing Shi^2*

• ¹Principal Training Department of Primary and Secondary Schools, Teacher Cadre Education College, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
• ²Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China

Ensuring equitable access to school physical education (PE) resources is central to education goals, yet sub-provincial spatial patterns remain underexamined in China. This study assesses spatial inequality in PE resource allocation and its policy implications across 107 districts/counties in Shaanxi Province (2024). We develop a multidimensional index (11 indicators across human, material, and financial inputs) using entropy weights, map distributions with GIS and a standard deviational ellipse, test clustering with Moran's I/LISA, decompose inequality with Dagum's Gini, and identify determinants and interaction effects via GeoDetector. Resources exhibit a core–periphery gradient centered on central Shaanxi; two-thirds of districts fall in middle or lower-middle tiers. Global Moran's I = 0.105 (p = 0.037) indicates weak but significant clustering; LISA reveals extensive Low–Low clusters (45.7%) in peripheral regions and limited High–High clusters (19.6%) around urban cores. Overall inequality is modest (Gini = 0.176) but driven mainly by inter-city gaps (≈48%) and cross-city overlap (≈43%), with little within-city disparity. Human resources dominate composite scores in 96.3% of districts, while financial inputs are skewed toward equipment purchases. Urbanization (q = 0.241), PE funding share (q = 0.239), student density (q = 0.232), and teacher supply (q = 0.208) are leading drivers; interactions are strongly synergistic (e.g., urbanization × school supply q ≈0.539). Findings underscore that strengthening the PE teacher workforce, rebalancing investment toward long-term capacity (facilities and professional development), and implementing spatially targeted, multi-lever policies—especially for persistent Low–Low clusters and urban–rural margins—are critical to promoting equitable, high-quality PE resource allocation.