IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v14y2024i10p1802-d1497743.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Can Digital Villages Improve Basic Public Services Delivery in Rural Areas? Evidence from 1840 Counties in China

Author

Listed:
  • Zijun Mao

    (College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
    Non-Traditional Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Xiyue Zhu

    (College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
    Non-Traditional Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Qi Zou

    (School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Wen Jin

    (College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
    Non-Traditional Research Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

Abstract

Digital transformation is spreading from urban to rural areas, and the construction of digital villages has become a key growth point for rural sustainable development globally. Digital villages improve the level of basic public services delivery in rural areas via the penetration of digital technology. However, few studies have empirically investigated the theoretical mechanisms underlying the impact of digital villages on various aspects of rural basic public services. To address these gaps, this study investigates the impact mechanisms of digital villages on rural basic public services delivery in terms of accessibility, equity, agility, holistic nature and participation. Using 1840 counties in China as the research sample, this study applies the entropy method to extract a composite index of basic public services and performs correlation, regression, and heterogeneity analyses to examine the effects of digital villages on basic public services delivery. Empirical analysis results show that the construction of digital villages is positively associated with the level of basic public services in rural areas. Meanwhile, heterogeneity analysis results confirms that this relationship is mainly observed in eastern counties but not observed in central and western counties. These findings provide a basis for using digital inclusion to improve basic public services delivery in rural areas and achieve balanced development across regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zijun Mao & Xiyue Zhu & Qi Zou & Wen Jin, 2024. "How Can Digital Villages Improve Basic Public Services Delivery in Rural Areas? Evidence from 1840 Counties in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:10:p:1802-:d:1497743
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/10/1802/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/10/1802/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Prieger, James E., 2013. "The broadband digital divide and the economic benefits of mobile broadband for rural areas," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 483-502.
    2. Pingping Wang & Chaozhu Li & Chenghao Huang, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Village Construction on County-Level Economic Growth and Its Driving Mechanisms: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Weiwei Li & Ping Zhang & Kaixu Zhao & Hua Chen & Sidong Zhao, 2023. "The Evolution Model of and Factors Influencing Digital Villages: Evidence from Guangxi, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Muzhe Pan & Yaofu Huang & Yawen Qin & Xun Li & Wei Lang, 2022. "Problems and Strategies of Allocating Public Service Resources in Rural Areas in the Context of County Urbanization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Yang, Bo & Ma, Fang & Deng, Weihua & Pi, Yang, 2022. "Digital inclusive finance and rural household subsistence consumption in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 627-642.
    6. Elinor Benami & Michael R. Carter, 2021. "Can digital technologies reshape rural microfinance? Implications for savings, credit, & insurance," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(4), pages 1196-1220, December.
    7. Frederico Cruz-Jesus & Tiago Oliveira & Fernando Bacao, 2018. "The Global Digital Divide: Evidence and Drivers," Journal of Global Information Management (JGIM), IGI Global, vol. 26(2), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Mingzhao Xiong & Wenqi Li & Brian Sheng Xian Teo & Jaizah Othman, 2022. "Can China’s Digital Inclusive Finance Alleviate Rural Poverty? An Empirical Analysis from the Perspective of Regional Economic Development and an Income Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Zheng Cai & Shengsheng Li & Di Cheng, 2023. "Has Digital Village Construction Improved Rural Family Resilience in China? Evidence Based on China Household Finance Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    10. Fennell, Shailaja & Kaur, Prabhjot & Jhunjhunwala, Ashok & Narayanan, Deapika & Loyola, Charles & Bedi, Jaskiran & Singh, Yaadveer, 2018. "Examining linkages between Smart Villages and Smart Cities: Learning from rural youth accessing the internet in India," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 810-823.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ying Liu & Haoyi Zhang & Manxiu Ning & Linping Wang, 2024. "Has Digital Village Construction Narrowed the Urban–Rural Income Gap: Evidence from Chinese Counties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Ding, Guoxuan & Kang, Nier, 2024. "The impact of digital financial inclusion on China's regional disparities in the quality of economic development: Based on the relational data paradigm," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 629-651.
    3. Shaoyang Zhao & Mengxue Li & Xiang Cao, 2024. "Empowering Rural Development: Evidence from China on the Impact of Digital Village Construction on Farmland Scale Operation," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Iqbal Yulizar Mukti & Jörg Henseler & Adina Aldea & Rajesri Govindaraju & Maria E. Iacob, 2022. "Rural smartness: Its determinants and impacts on rural economic welfare," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 1943-1970, December.
    5. Dongjing Chen & Xiaotong Guo, 2023. "Impact of the Digital Economy and Financial Development on Residents’ Consumption Upgrading: Evidence from Mainland China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Ana Gomes & José G. Dias, 2023. "Is there a Common Digital Market in the European Union? Implications for the European Digitalization Strategy," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(3), pages 797-814, May.
    7. Granguillhome Ochoa, Rogelio & Lach, Samantha & Masaki, Takaaki & Rodríguez-Castelán, Carlos, 2022. "Mobile internet adoption in West Africa," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Quentin Stoeffler & Michael Carter & Catherine Guirkinger & Wouter Gelade, 2022. "The Spillover Impact of Index Insurance on Agricultural Investment by Cotton Farmers in Burkina Faso," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 36(1), pages 114-140.
    9. Yitian Ren, 2023. "Rural China Staggering towards the Digital Era: Evolution and Restructuring," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-25, July.
    10. Pradhan, Rudra P. & Arvin, Mak B. & Norman, Neville R., 2015. "The dynamics of information and communications technologies infrastructure, economic growth, and financial development: Evidence from Asian countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 135-149.
    11. Margarita Billon & Rocio Marco & Fernando Lera-Lopez, 2017. "Innovation and ICT use in the EU: an analysis of regional drivers," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 53(3), pages 1083-1108, November.
    12. Lili Li & Yiwu Zeng & Zi Ye & Hongdong Guo, 2021. "E‐commerce development and urban‐rural income gap: Evidence from Zhejiang Province, China," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(2), pages 475-494, April.
    13. Brian E. Whitacre & David Shideler & Randi Williams, 2016. "Do Incentive Programs Cause Growth? The Case of the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program and Community-Level Economic Growth," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 30(1), pages 62-74, February.
    14. Sadaf Bashir & Bert Sadowski, 2014. "General Purpose Technologies: A Survey, a Critique and Future Research Directions," Working Papers 14-02, Eindhoven Center for Innovation Studies, revised Feb 2014.
    15. Bo Yang & Xiangnan Wang & Tong Wu & Weihua Deng, 2023. "Reducing farmers' poverty vulnerability in China: The role of digital financial inclusion," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1445-1480, August.
    16. Jun Wen & Hadi Hussain & Renai Jiang & Junaid Waheed, 2023. "Overcoming the Digital Divide With ICT Diffusion: Multivariate and Spatial Analysis at China’s Provincial Level," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    17. Grishchenko, Natalia, 2020. "The gap not only closes: Resistance and reverse shifts in the digital divide in Russia," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(8).
    18. Oughton, Edward J. & Amaglobeli, David & Moszoro, Marian, 2023. "What would it cost to connect the unconnected? Estimating global universal broadband infrastructure investment," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(10).
    19. Steven Deller & Brian Whitacre & Tessa Conroy, 2022. "Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(3), pages 999-1025, May.
    20. Ajoy Ketan Sarangi & Rudra Prakash Pradhan, 2020. "ICT infrastructure and economic growth: a critical assessment and some policy implications," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 47(4), pages 363-383, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:10:p:1802-:d:1497743. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.