How Does Digital Inclusive Finance Affect Agricultural Green Development? Evidence from Thirty Provinces in China

Abstract

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has proposed to promote green development, which is an important concern in realizing agricultural green development (AGD). Based on the connotations of AGD, the mechanism of the impact of digital inclusive finance on AGD is explored from the perspective of agricultural technology innovation, agricultural production socialization services and rural industry integration. Using the spatial Durbin model from 2011 to 2021, the regional development differences in AGD are analyzed. The results are as follows. (1) The level of AGD in the eastern region is relatively high, and the regional distribution pattern of “east–middle–west” is generally formed from high to low. (2) In terms of the mechanism of action, digital inclusive finance has an impact on AGD, mainly by promoting agricultural technological innovation, improving the level of socialized services of agricultural production and promoting the integrated development of rural industries. (3) When the intensity of environmental regulation is high, the promotional effect of digital inclusive finance on AGD is greater, while, when environmental regulation is weak, the promotional effect of digital inclusive finance on AGD is small. When more attention is paid to AGD, the impact of digital inclusive finance on AGD is stronger; when the emphasis on AGD is small, the impact of digital inclusive finance on AGD is weaker. (4) The higher the level of AGD, the greater the role of digital inclusive finance in promoting AGD, and the impact in the eastern region is greater than that in the central and western regions.