What types of urban regeneration projects catalyze urban development? A configurational perspective

Purpose This study aims to investigate the catalytic effects of urban regeneration (UR) on urban sustainable development and the complex mechanisms underlying the catalytic processes from a configurational perspective. Design/methodology/approach Rooted in the urban catalyst theory, the research develops a three-dimensional analytical framework that quantitatively evaluates UR projects in Chongqing. The study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) to identify the configurations of factors and necessary conditions leading to specific catalytic performance of projects. Moreover, the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method is utilized to prioritize projects with different configurational types. Findings Thirteen configurations are associated with high catalytic performance and seven with negative outcomes. Commercialization emerges as a necessary condition for achieving high catalytic performance. The empirical results demonstrate that multiple combinations of project-specific and district-specific conditions can achieve equivalent levels of catalytic performance, while pathways leading to opposite outcomes are asymmetric. Practical implications The findings guide policymakers in designing strategic interventions that maximize catalytic effects in resource-constrained contexts by identifying optimal combinations of factors. Originality/value Existing studies on UR catalysts have been limited to single-dimensional evaluations and case-specific analyses. The research fills research gaps by pioneering the quantification of Urban Catalyst theory concepts and transforming them into measurable dimensions. By revealing the asymmetric relationship between success and failure pathways in UR, the study helps to explore the inherent complexity of urban catalysts and establishes a new analytical paradigm for evaluating complex urban interventions.