Table 2.

Scenario summary of delivery-cost estimates and policy scan results

	Urban scenario (baseline)	Neutral base-case (η = 5)	Higher-efficiency rural scenario (η = 8)	Low-consolidation rural stress case (η = 3)
Input parameters
Mean modeled distance (km)	2.85	10.61	10.61	10.61
η	25	5	8	3
β	1.2	1.5	1.5	1.5
Cost results
Mean delivery cost (RMB)	19.51	31.98	25.87	42.83
95th percentile cost summary (RMB)	20.56	52.86	38.92	77.63
Cost gap vs. urban mean (RMB)	Reference	+ 12.47	+ 6.37	+ 23.33
Policy scan
WTP values scanned (RMB)	-	8 / 12 / 20	8 / 12 / 20	8 / 12 / 20
Subsidy values scanned (RMB)	-	35 / 40 / 45 / 47 / 50 / 55	35 / 40 / 45 / 47 / 50 / 55	35 / 40 / 45 / 47 / 50 / 55
Highest mean cooperation within scan	-	0.333 (WTP = 20, S = 55)	0.346 (WTP = 20, S = 55)	0.032 (WTP = 20, S = 55)
Robust threshold identified within scan?	-	No	No	No
Policy interpretation	Reference benchmark	Persistent gap; no stable equilibrium	Improved response; no stable equilibrium	Severe burden; weak cooperation

Note: Values summarize cost and policy-scan scenarios. Rural η and β are scenario/proxy parameters, not locally observed constants; source details are provided in the Supplementary Tables. No robust subsidy threshold was identified