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An introduction to rural and agricultural development in the digital age

Author

Listed:
  • Wanglin Ma
  • Andy McKay
  • Dil B. Rahut
  • Tetsushi Sonobe

Abstract

This special issue contributes to the development economics literature by highlighting the role of information communication and technologies (ICTs) in supporting rural and agricultural development. It is comprised of nine papers. Key findings from this special issue include: (1) internet use increases rural consumption diversity and agricultural productivity; (2) smartphone use empowers rural women in household decision‐making and off‐farm work participation; (3) smartphone‐based agricultural extension services boost rural income growth; (4) a lack of ICT infrastructure and inadequate skills to use digital technologies are two key factors that lead to digital poverty traps for smallholder rural farmers; (5) ICT adoption increases the probability of rural households' access to credit and empowers rural women and farm households in relatively less developed regions to access credit; (6) digital financial inclusion reduces farmers' vulnerability to poverty; and (7) e‐commerce adoption increases both sales prices and marketing costs, but the magnitude of increasing the former is higher than the magnitude of increasing the latter, which finally contributes to a higher gross return. This special issue also proposes practical instruments and implications for advancing the application of ICTs in rural areas to accelerate rural and agricultural development in the digital age.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanglin Ma & Andy McKay & Dil B. Rahut & Tetsushi Sonobe, 2023. "An introduction to rural and agricultural development in the digital age," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1273-1286, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:27:y:2023:i:3:p:1273-1286
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.13025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chenxin Leng & Wanglin Ma & Jianjun Tang & Zhongkun Zhu, 2020. "ICT adoption and income diversification among rural households in China," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(33), pages 3614-3628, June.
    2. Heidi Kaila & Finn Tarp, 2019. "Can the Internet improve agricultural production? Evidence from Viet Nam," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 50(6), pages 675-691, November.
    3. Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Nguyen, Thanh-Tung & Grote, Ulrike, 2022. "Internet use, natural resource extraction and poverty reduction in rural Thailand," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    4. Rebecca Hartje & Michael Hübler, 2017. "Smartphones support smart labour," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(7), pages 467-471, April.
    5. Min, Shi & Liu, Min & Huang, Jikun, 2020. "Does the application of ICTs facilitate rural economic transformation in China? Empirical evidence from the use of smartphones among farmers," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Zheng, Hongyun & Ma, Wanglin & Wang, Fang & Li, Gucheng, 2021. "Does internet use improve technical efficiency of banana production in China? Evidence from a selectivity-corrected analysis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    7. Phonedalom Bounkham & Mokbul Morshed Ahmad & Muhammad Yaseen, 2022. "Determinants and benefits of using smartphone-based information for vegetable production and marketing: a case of Lao farmers," Development in Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(7), pages 981-994, October.
    8. Ankrah Twumasi, Martinson & Jiang, Yuansheng & Asante, Dennis & Addai, Bismark & Akuamoah-Boateng, Samuel & Fosu, Prince, 2021. "Internet use and farm households food and nutrition security nexus: The case of rural Ghana," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Wanglin Ma & Xiaobing Wang, 2020. "Internet Use, Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Rural Incomes: Evidence from China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(4), pages 1087-1112, October.
    10. Hongyun Zheng & Wanglin Ma, 2023. "Smartphone-based information acquisition and wheat farm performance: insights from a doubly robust IPWRA estimator," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 633-658, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhonggang Yue & Chong Wang & Hui Hong, 2025. "Inclusive development of digital finance, family entrepreneurship and poverty reduction effect," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-28, December.
    2. Jiaxuan Li & Zhiyuan Peng, 2024. "Impact of Digital Villages on Agricultural Green Growth Based on Empirical Analysis of Chinese Provincial Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-27, November.

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