The main process and driving mechanism of rural revitalization in China

Abstract

Uncovering the evolution process of rural revitalization level (RRL) in China and elucidating the complex driving mechanism hold significant implications for implementing rural revitalization strategy and advancing rural modernization. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution of China’s RRL from 2002 to 2022 and reveals its complex driving mechanism. The results show that China’s RRL steadily increased from 0.1083 to 0.4463, and the provincial RRL exhibited the characteristic of decreasing successively in the eastern region, the central region, and the western region. The overall differences of RRL are shrinking, and intra-group differences contribute almost 1/3 of the overall variation, more than the contribution of inter-group differences. Although the influencing factors show nonlinear characteristics, on the whole, economic level and human capital exhibit positive effects, while relief degree, urbanization, industrialization, and opening degree exhibit negative effects. Farmland resources and investment intensity exhibit the characteristics of positive effect and negative effect equilibrium. At the regional scale, influencing factors exhibit significant spatio-temporal heterogeneity. In the future, to achieve comprehensive rural revitalization, it is vital to implement systemic policy measures, such as enhancing industrial competitiveness, supplementing rural talents, and optimizing the relations between urban and rural areas as well as between industry and agriculture.