An investigation into the relationship between lottery sale and economic performance in four municipality cities of China

Abstract

It is common to see lottery shops not only in the mega cities of China, but also in rural areas, since lottery is a popular product in Chinese market. This research intends to find out whether the development of lottery industry can be a weather vane for Chinese economy to make predictions and plan policies beforehand. Using four municipality cities in China’s mainland (Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, & Shanghai) as representatives, this study investigates the correlation between lottery sale and economic development, with a focus on four mainstream economic indicators including gross domestic product, average disposable income, aging population and unemployment rate. By examining the feasibility of using Pearson correlation coefficient in the study, and carry outing correlation test with the statistical tool relying on first hand data collection, this paper tries to analyze reasons for the differences between cities based on cultural difference and consumer preference differences behind.