Rural Revitalization Research Articles

The adaptation of rural household to carbon neutrality for rural revitalization in China: choices and outcomes

The adaptation of rural household to carbon neutrality for rural revitalization in China: choices and outcomes

Can the digital economy contribute to rural revitalization? A case of from China?

This study establishes a multi-dimensional evaluation index system for measuring digital economy and rural revitalization. It explores the impact of digital economy on China's rural revitalization and its mechanism using dynamic balanced panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2012 to 2020 and adopting two-way fixed effect and mediated effect models. The results reveal that digital economy promotes rural revitalization in China; however, differences exist in its impact on industrial prosperity, ecological livability, civilized rural customs, effective governance, and affluent living under rural revitalization. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of digital economy on rural revitalization is more pronounced in eastern China, with high levels of new urbanization and areas for big-data experimentation. In addition, this thesis verifies that technological innovation and human capital are two important transmission paths through which digital economy affects rural revitalization in China. The conclusions provide theoretical guidance and practical support for China and other developing countries to vigorously develop their digital economies and comprehensively revitalize the countryside.

The impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer: a analytical perspective based on the profitability of grain production

IntroductionIn the context of the deceleration of farmland scale management, a crucial question arises in agricultural development theory and practice: will service driven scale management in the production process become a viable alternative to farmland scale management, serving as the secondary pathway to achieve scale management in China?MethodsTo address this issue, an empirical analysis on the impact of agricultural machinery services on farmland transfer was conducted in this article using data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey database comprising 302 villages and 2,871 micro-farmers in 2020 by utilizing the ordinary least squares method and instrumental variable method.Results and discussionThe results show that the implementation of agricultural machinery services will increase the rate of farmland transfer in villages. The effect of agricultural machinery services on increasing the profitability of large-scale farmers surpasses its effect on smallholder farmers, thereby motivating smallholder farmers to transfer farmland to large-scale farmers, consequently fostering the consolidation of farmland. In addition, power-intensive service links are more effective in increasing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the concentration of farmland transfer compared to control-intensive service links. The impact of agricultural machinery services on enhancing the rate of farmland transfer and fostering the consolidation of farmland transfer is more pronounced on the plain areas compared to the hillmountainous areas. Consequently, this article demonstrates that service-driven scale management and farmland scale management are not merely alternatives but rather complementary strategies that mutually reinforce each other.

Assessing rural revitalization potential through rural transformation degree and sustainability: A quantitative study of 460 case villages in Lingbao, China

Extensive international experience shows that only villages with sustainable transformation achieve rural revitalization, while those with intense but unsustainable or stagnant transformation struggle to revitalize. However, this cognition lacks robust quantitative substantiation. Therefore, we established a rural revitalization potential assessment framework based on the rural transformation degree and sustainability, employing the Penalty for a Bottleneck (PFB) method and Entropy Function to measure the rural transformation degree and sustainability of 460 villages in Lingbao City, Henan Province, China, from 2000 to 2021, thus evaluating rural revitalization potential. The Mann-Kendall (MK) test was conducted to detect rural transformation thresholds, further quantifying the spatial relationship between rural transformation degree and sustainability through bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis (BSA). Our findings resonate with the central place theory that villages near those at advanced stages of development struggle to transform sustainably. Additionally, with the optimization of rural population density, and land use structure, these villages demonstrated a discernible upward trajectory in transformation sustainability. Villages with the highest rural revitalization potential were predominantly distributed in the northern of the Yellow River terrace, while those in the southwestern mountainous areas lacked revitalization potential due to low transformation degree. Generally, villages at higher altitudes and steeper slopes exhibited lower rural transformation degree, sustainability, and revitalization potential. With 30 km as the critical point, rural revitalization potential decreased initially and then increased with distance from the county government seat. This study provides essential references for the rational allocation of rural transformation and revitalization resources and for optimizing rural development planning.

Regeneration, predatory inclusion, and migrant experiences in declining rural areas in Spain and Germany

ABSTRACT Declining rural areas have become central sites for migrant settlement. In the hope that migration will counteract rural shrinkage, migrants are increasingly portrayed as catalysts to revitalize communities. This article critically examines migration to declining rural areas vis-à-vis rural reception and regeneration policies. Drawing on qualitative research including interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations, we compare migrants’ settlement experiences and their positions in rural revitalization processes in northeast Spain and eastern Germany. Our research illustrates that local reception and regeneration policies do not only sideline the role of newcomers as rural place-makers, who contribute to the sustainment (or expansion) of local services and infrastructures. They also result in conditions of ‘predatory inclusion’, in which migrants’ settlement is shaped regarding their potential ‘use’ for revitalizing local economies and housing markets in exploitative terms and along racialized lines. Facing precarious labor and housing conditions, migrants tend to reside only temporarily in our investigated areas. This article contributes to a growing body of migration research in rural areas and explains that attempts at regeneration through migration can run the risk of ignoring migrants' structural conditions, needs, mobility aspirations and life plans, thereby reinforcing racial and class-based inequalities present in rural areas.

A Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy characterization method based on heterogeneous big data and its application in forest ecological assessment

The under-forest economy is a new agricultural and forestry production mode. It can improve the utilization efficiency of forest land and make full use of forest resources, forest space, and forest ecological environment through different forms of industries such as understory planting and breeding. The under-forest economy has important ecological and economic benefits, significant to rural revitalization and industrial structure adjustment. It has been widely discussed by people in recent years. The forest ecological security level is a core factor to be considered in selecting sites for the under-forest economy. In practice, some forest ecological security evaluation indexes usually show heterogeneous forms. To comprehensively evaluate the level of forest ecological security, this study constructs a new multi-indicator fuzzy evaluation method based on heterogeneous big data. Firstly, a new linguistic scale function is defined to realize the consistent conversion of multi-granularity linguistic information. A Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy aggregation formula for heterogeneous large-scale data is proposed. This formula is used to describe the differences in evaluation information between individuals caused by different knowledge backgrounds of evaluators. Then, the Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy cross-entropy is defined, and it is verified to satisfy the excellent properties. This cross-entropy is applied to determine the objective weights of evaluation indexes. Considering the risk-averse psychology of experts and combining the prospect theory, the MULTIMOORA method in the Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy environment is proposed. Finally, the applicability of the constructed Gaussian interval type-2 fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method (GIT2FCE) is verified through a case study conducted on the site selection of the under-forest economic industry.

Evaluation Method of Implementation Effect of Rural Revitalization Strategy based on Wavelet Analysis Algorithm

This study presents an innovative approach to evaluate the implementation effects of the Rural Revitalization Strategy R2S, utilising the robust capabilities of the wavelet analysis algorithm. The proposed methodology integrates the strength of wavelet transform, an advanced mathematical tool for signal processing, with the entropy weighting method and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. This integration creates a comprehensive framework for assessing the multifaceted impacts of rural revitalisation initiatives. The wavelet analysis algorithm is the cornerstone of this approach, enabling the decomposition of complex rural development data into different frequency components, thus facilitating a more nuanced analysis. The entropy weighting method contributes by objectively determining the weights of various evaluation indicators, ensuring that the most relevant factors in rural revitalisation are emphasised in the assessment process. The TOPSIS model complements this by clearly ranking the analysed strategies based on their proximity to an ideal solution, thereby enabling decision-makers to identify the most effective strategies for rural development. Together, these techniques form a powerful tool for evaluating the effectiveness of rural revitalisation strategies, offering critical insights for policy formulation and implementation in rural areas. This study’s methodology not only enhances the accuracy of evaluation but also provides a replicable model for similar assessments in other contexts, contributing significantly to rural development and policy analysis.

Reciprocal regulation between rural settlement expansion and human-elephant conflict in China's wild elephant range

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and its socioeconomic impacts are a pressing global issue. Accurately quantifying HWCs and their interaction with residential development is crucial for rural revitalization and biodiversity conservation efforts. This study investigates the interplay between rural residential expansion (RRE) with human-elephant conflict (HEC) in southern Yunnan Province using high-accuracy yearly land use/land cover data and Asian elephant accident data. A piecewise regression along with several metrics, including expansion intensity and rate of rural residential land, and residential density, were employed to analyze the spatial-temporal change characteristics of RRE. Then, a geographical detector and a bivariate spatial autocorrelation model were used to reveal the driving mechanisms of RRE, with particular emphasis on the spatial relations between RRE and HECs. The results indicate that HECs had a significant negative impact on RRE, exhibiting higher expansion intensity and rate of rural residential land in non-HEC areas than in HEC areas. High spatiotemporal consistency between accelerated RRE and intensified HECs occurred from 2010 onwards, which aligns with the year when the trend of settlement area expansion changed. RRE activities and ensuing land use conversions led to increased occurrences of HECs, which negatively affected the RRE. Compared to HECs, topography and locational factors exhibited a secondary effect on RRE activities. The findings underscore reciprocal feedback mechanisms between RRE and HECs and the elevated risk of adverse interactions between humans and elephants within the range of China's wild elephants, providing theoretical support for coordinating conservation initiatives for Asian elephants with rural revitalization in the border areas of Southwest China.

The influencing factors of willingness to participate in crop rotation and fallow: A behavioural economics perspective

AbstractCrop rotation and fallow practices are increasingly adopted to mitigate ecological resource pressures and accelerate the development of modern agriculture. These practices have significant implications for environmental protection, soil quality enhancement and the promotion of sustainable, high‐quality agricultural development. Despite their importance, empirical research on the factors influencing participation in crop rotation and fallow remains limited and comparative analyses of different compensation scenarios are scarce. This study, grounded in behavioural economics, utilizes data from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) and employs propensity score matching (PSM) and binary logistic regression models to analyse farmers' behaviour regarding both induced and voluntary crop rotation and fallow. The research aims to identify the factors that influence farmers' decisions to engage in these practices. The findings indicate that, under a fixed subsidy standard, the participation rates for crop rotation and fallow were 14.5% and 5.4%, respectively. Among the farmers participating in crop rotation, 43.8% were induced, while 56.2% were voluntary. For fallow practices, 47.9% of the participants were induced and 52.1% were voluntary. In the context of induced crop rotation and fallow, ecological subsidies significantly increased farmers' willingness to participate (p‐value <.001). Conversely, in voluntary contexts, resource endowment had a significantly positive impact on crop rotation behaviour (p‐value <.1), whereas path dependence and policy awareness significantly constrained fallow behaviour (p‐value <.05). The impact of ecological subsidies on farmers' crop rotation and fallow behaviour varied significantly across different ecological regions, with other factors also exhibiting notable heterogeneity. The results of this research offer valuable guidance for the implementation of future crop rotation and fallow programmes. Additionally, they provide insights into the relationship between ecological subsidy systems and farmers' welfare in other underdeveloped areas, suggesting improvements and offering new perspectives for further research.

The impact of town planning on direct residential CO2 emissions in rural China

China's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060 has made decarbonization a key principle for spatial planning (also referred to as urban/city/town planning). Although the mitigation effect of spatial planning in urban areas has been well documented, its significance in rural development has yet to be investigated. This paper addresses this research gap by empirically examining the influence of town planning on rural direct residential CO2 emissions (DRCEs) across 30 provinces in China. Based on various quantitative models, this study not only confirms the significant impact of town planning on rural DRCEs and the moderation effect of plan implementation capacity but also discloses that different dimensions of town planning have disparate roles in rural DRCE reduction. Additionally, regional variations in the mitigation effects of town planning on rural DRCEs were observed. The study also reveals spatial spillover effects, indicating that the influence of town planning on rural DRCEs extends beyond individual areas. Overall, China's experiences demonstrate that well-managed town planning could play an essential role in low-carbon rural revitalization or, otherwise, it may augment rural DRCEs per capita. Consequently, governments should ascribe great importance to low-carbon town planning and allocate sufficient resources to towns, especially those in the central and western regions, so that they can afford professional planning consultation and adequate staffing in plan implementation. Moreover, governments should cooperate to promote knowledge sharing and transferring of low-carbon planning.

Research on the Impact Mechanism and Empirical Study of the Digital Economy on Rural Revitalization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt

As a new engine of China’s economic development, the digital economy is playing an important role in rural revitalization. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic, there is a lack of recent empirical research on the digital economy and rural revitalization and development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Based on the provincial panel data of 11 provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2014 to 2022, this paper calculates the comprehensive development level of the digital economy and rural revitalization and conducts a benchmark regression on their relationship. The results of the heterogeneity analysis show that the impact of the digital economy on rural revitalization in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River is stronger than that in the lower reaches. Then we adopt the Moran index and spatial Durbin model for further regression analysis, and find that there is a spatial autocorrelation between the digital economy and rural revitalization. The digital economy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt has a spatial spillover effect on rural revitalization. To effectively harness the digital economy’s role in advancing rural revitalization, it is crucial to tailor resource allocation to local conditions, implement targeted policies, and establish a robust monitoring and evaluation system. This strategy aims to facilitate the seamless integration of the digital economy with rural revitalization, thereby achieving synergistic effects and promoting comprehensive, sustainable development in both economic and social dimensions.

Multifunctional Identification and Transition Path of Rural Homesteads: A Case Study of Jilin Province

In the context of rural revitalization, identifying the functional characteristics of rural homesteads and clarifying the relationship among various functions are important scientific issues for the transformation of homestead utilization. Taking Jilin Province as an example, this paper analyzes the problems existing in rural homestead utilization from the aspects of quantitative characteristics, human–land matching degree, and the current situation of idle homesteads. An evaluation index system is constructed to measure the functional values of homesteads to identify the advantageous functions of homesteads. The results are as follows: (1) in some areas of the Jilin Province, the per capita homestead area is relatively large, with a high vacancy rate, and there is a phenomenon of inefficient use of homesteads, (2) according to the calculation results of the homestead functional index, the overall performance of the four functions of rural homesteads is in the order of living function > security function > production function > asset function, indicating that traditional living function remains predominant in the study area, (3) based on the relationship between the comprehensiveness and coordination of the four functions of homesteads, villages are classified into “moderate optimization area”, “key improvement area”, “collaborative optimization area”, and “potential improvement area”.

How to evaluate the efficiency of rural preschool education resources and its regional differences in China

Rural preschool education is an integral part of rural society, and improving the efficiency system of evaluation of rural preschool education resource allocation is an important strategy for the implementation of the rural revitalization. This paper uses an input-oriented three-stage DEA model to analyze the efficiency of rural preschool education resource allocation in 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2020. The results show that external factors such as the level of urbanization, birth rate, and the scale of kindergarten impacts the efficiency of rural preschool education resource allocation significantly. Without regard to the influence of environmental and random factors, the overall trend of the average efficiency of rural preschool education resource allocation in China has improved, showing a regional pattern of “central > eastern > western.” Therefore, based on the relevant policies, this paper puts forward rational suggestions for the improvement of rural preschool resource allocation efficiency in China from the perspectives of human, financial and material resources.

Research on the Competitiveness Evaluation of Rural B&B Cluster Based on GEMS Model——Taking Pengzhou Longmen Mountain Jianjiang River Valley Eco-tourism Area as an Example

In the context of rural revitalization, the rural B&B industry demonstrates notable dynamism and exhibits a tendency towards clustering. Using the GEMS model, the competitiveness of the local rural B&B industry cluster is evaluated at four levels: foundation, enterprise, market and environment. The findings indicate that the rural B&B industry cluster in the Pengzhou Longmen Shan Jinjiang Valley Eco-tourism Area exhibits certain competitive advantages. However, there is potential for enhancement at the market and enterprise levels. Consequently, recommendations for promoting the sustainable development of the cluster are proposed.

Research on Issues and Countermeasures for Consolidating and Expanding Poverty Alleviation Achievements and Effectively Connecting with Rural Revitalization in Ethnic Areas of Hubei Province, China

This paper explores the transition from targeted poverty alleviation to rural revitalization in Hubei Province's ethnic regions. Building on China’s success in eradicating absolute poverty by 2020, the focus shifts to addressing relative poverty. The study highlights the need for systematic strategies to consolidate and expand poverty alleviation achievements, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of the challenge. Drawing on the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the paper advocates for effective integration of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Key strategies include precise identification and support systems, industry-based prosperity, specialized industry development, and ecological and cultural reinforcement. Policy formulation should prioritize household-centric approaches and encourage multi-stakeholder participation to foster sustainable and inclusive rural development.

The Development of Rural Tourism in Bozhou City under the Background of Cultural and Tourism Integration

Based on the merger of the former National Tourism Administration and the Ministry of Culture in 2018, and the proposal of the rural revitalization strategy of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the rural tourism of Bozhou is facing new development opportunities. This research uses literature collection and SWOT methods to analyze and suggest the development problems in the context of cultural and tourism integration in Bozhou City. This study is conducive to the development of rural tourism in Bozhou City.

The Toilet Revolution Empowers Rural Revitalization based on a Health Perspective

Since the reform and opening up, with the rapid development of the Chinese economy, public health problems have become increasingly serious. At the same time, due to the reality of imbalanced urban-rural development in China, improving the living environment in rural areas is the key and difficult point to achieve rural revitalization. Therefore, in 2015, the Chinese government officially began the "Toilet Revolution", a national public health movement aimed at improving urban and rural public health problems, enhancing people's quality of life, promoting rural economic development, and further promoting the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. Based on a health perspective, this article analyzes the impact of the "toilet revolution" on rural health human capital by reviewing existing data and literature such as the "China Statistical Yearbook" on the level of health service expenditure and the number of sanitary toilet constructions. It further elucidates the mechanism by which the "toilet revolution" empowers rural revitalization, providing a theoretical basis for the government to deepen the "toilet revolution", narrow the urban-rural gap, and promote rural revitalization.

Impact of Rural E-Commerce on Farmers’ Income and Income Gap

Rural e-commerce, as a new form of digital economy, is of great significance in promoting the income of rural households and realizing common prosperity. Based on the 2021 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), the impact of rural e-commerce on farmers’ income and the intra-rural income gap is explored using quantile regression. The results found that (1) rural e-commerce can effectively promote the level of farm household income and alleviate the intra-rural income disparity, with this finding still holding after addressing the potential endogeneity problem and conducting robust-type tests. (2) Rural e-commerce has the most pronounced income-generating effect on low-income households in the southern region; participation in rural e-commerce has a more “center-expanding” effect on households in the secondary education and high material capital groups. (3) Saving production and operation costs, shortening the product circulation chain, and improving access to information are channels through which rural e-commerce affects households’ income. It is recommended to actively promote the deep integration and development of rural e-commerce in rural areas, establish a sound mechanism for bridging the “digital divide”, encourage e-commerce “leaders” to build a perfect industrial chain, and guide smallholders to integrate into the rural e-commerce industrial chain to enjoy the digital dividend.

Women as Alternates: A Study on the Mechanism of Village Official Replacement in the Context of Rural Revitalization – A Case Study of Village J in Southeastern Hubei

Abstract The trend of left-behind women serving as village officials and participating in village governance is on the rise. Research in clan-based villages in the general agricultural regions of central and western China reveals that village factional conflicts make it difficult for elderly male village officials to win in village committee elections. Additionally, the emphasis on younger village officials by local governments forces these older men out of their roles. The economic resources available through village governance are limited and fail to meet the material needs of middle-aged and young male village officials, leading to their withdrawal as well. With the departure of men, left-behind women have become significant candidates for village official positions. Because of the increasing “administratization” 行政化 of village governance, village organizations need to mobilize these women to handle the growing administrative tasks in village management. Serving as village officials allows left-behind women to both care for their children and earn a decent income, while fulfilling the local government’s requirements for village officials. Consequently, through a series of training mechanisms, an increasing number of women are becoming the principal cadres within village committees.

Research on the Construction of Scenarios for Blockchain to Empower Government Governance

This paper delves into the potential and practical challenges of blockchain in government governance. As a cutting-edge development in information and communication technology, blockchain offers unique capabilities in data management and value transfer, presenting new solutions for government governance. The article begins with an overview of the definition, connotation, and current application status of blockchain technology, and then constructs typical scenarios where blockchain technology empowers government governance, including electronic credentials, government data circulation, data resource sharing, collaborative office work, and digital rural revitalization. By realizing these scenarios, the paper analyzes the main problems and challenges faced by blockchain technology in government governance, such as inadequate infrastructure, data leakage risks, and difficulties in inter-departmental collaboration. Finally, a series of suggestions and prospects are put forward to promote the effective application of blockchain technology in digital government affairs, enhancing the transparency, efficiency, and intelligent level of government governance