IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i24p16898-d1301296.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of the Digital Economy on Food System Resilience: Insights from a Study across 190 Chinese Towns

Author

Listed:
  • Haifeng Wang

    (Institute of Food and Strategic Reserves, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Guangsi Li

    (Institute of Food and Strategic Reserves, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

  • Yunzhi Hu

    (Institute of Food and Strategic Reserves, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China)

Abstract

This study explores the impact of the digital economy on the resilience of the food system, employing data from 190 towns in China and a difference-in-differences (DID) model. The results indicate that, between 2011 and 2020, the progress of the digital economy was instrumental in driving continuous improvements in the food system’s resilience in China. This conclusion stands firm after accounting for endogenous issues and conducting comprehensive robustness tests. According to a mechanism test, the digital economy can impact the resilience of the food system through three avenues: digital technology, digital finance, and human capital. Further research indicates that the influence of the digital economy on the resilience of the food system varies across regions and different food functional zones. These findings offer fresh insights and empirical evidence into the linkages between the digital economy and food system resilience. Such insights may bolster the food system’s resilience in developing countries and promote sustainable food development.

Suggested Citation

  • Haifeng Wang & Guangsi Li & Yunzhi Hu, 2023. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Food System Resilience: Insights from a Study across 190 Chinese Towns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16898-:d:1301296
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16898/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16898/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fulian Li & Wuwei Zhang, 2023. "Research on the Effect of Digital Economy on Agricultural Labor Force Employment and Its Relationship Using SEM and fsQCA Methods," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Christophe Béné & Derek Headey & Lawrence Haddad & Klaus Grebmer, 2016. "Is resilience a useful concept in the context of food security and nutrition programmes? Some conceptual and practical considerations," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(1), pages 123-138, February.
    3. Yevheniia Varyvoda & Douglas Taren, 2022. "Considering Ecosystem Services in Food System Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Jacobson, Louis S & LaLonde, Robert J & Sullivan, Daniel G, 1993. "Earnings Losses of Displaced Workers," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 83(4), pages 685-709, September.
    5. Serge Savary & Sonia Akter & Conny Almekinders & Jody Harris & Lise Korsten & Reimund Rötter & Stephen Waddington & Derrill Watson, 2020. "Mapping disruption and resilience mechanisms in food systems," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(4), pages 695-717, August.
    6. Humna Ahsana & M. Emranul Haque, 2015. "Threshold Effects of Human Capital: Schooling and Economic Growth," Centre for Growth and Business Cycle Research Discussion Paper Series 217, Economics, The University of Manchester.
    7. Kai Zhao & Bintong Yu & Xiaoting Yang, 2023. "The Agricultural–Ecological Benefit of Digital Inclusive Finance Development: Evidence from Straw Burning in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    8. Xingmei Jia, 2023. "Digital Economy, Factor Allocation, and Sustainable Agricultural Development: The Perspective of Labor and Capital Misallocation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Roman Chinoracky & Tatiana Corejova, 2021. "How to evaluate the digital economy scale and potential?," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(4), pages 536-552, June.
    10. Ruoxi Zhong & Qiang He & Yanbin Qi, 2022. "Digital Economy, Agricultural Technological Progress, and Agricultural Carbon Intensity: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Qi Jiang & Jizhi Li & Hongyun Si & Yangyue Su, 2022. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Agricultural Green Development: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, July.
    12. Sarah Ruth Sippel & Moritz Dolinga, 2023. "Constructing agri-food for finance: startups, venture capital and food future imaginaries," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(2), pages 475-488, June.
    13. Ebrahim P. Karan & Sadegh Asgari & Somayeh Asadi, 2023. "Resilience assessment of centralized and distributed food systems," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 59-75, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wenjie Li & Guanyu Guo & Huangying Gu & Shuhao Lai & Yuanjie Duan & Chengming Li, 2024. "Digital Economy as a Buffer: Alleviating the Adverse Effects of Land Resource Mismatch on Food Security," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-21, October.

    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. Senhua Huang & Lingming Chen, 2023. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on the Urban Total-Factor Energy Efficiency: Evidence from 275 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Jian Li & Xiangchen Sheng & Shuhua Zhang & Yixuan Wang, 2024. "Research on the Impact of the Digital Economy and Technological Innovation on Agricultural Carbon Emissions," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Yi-feng Zhang & Min-xuan Ji & Xiu-zhi Zheng, 2023. "Digital Economy, Agricultural Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    4. Zhenyu Qi & Yuezhou You, 2024. "The Impact of the Rural Digital Economy on Agricultural Green Development and Its Mechanism: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-23, April.
    5. Claudiu George Bocean, 2024. "A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Relationship between Digital Technology Use and Agricultural Productivity in EU Countries," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, March.
    6. Bas Scheer & Wiljan van den Berge & Maarten Goos & Alan Manning & Anna Salomons, 2022. "Alternative Work Arrangements and Worker Outcomes: Evidence from Payrolling," CPB Discussion Paper 435, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    7. Yuegang Song & Songlin Jin & Zhenhui Li, 2022. "Venture Capital and Chinese Firms’ Technological Innovation Capability: Effective Evaluation and Mechanism Verification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    8. Shingo Yoshida & Hironori Yagi, 2021. "Long-Term Development of Urban Agriculture: Resilience and Sustainability of Farmers Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-23, April.
    9. Andreas Pollak, 2008. "Optimal Unemployment Insurance with Variable Skill Levels," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 164(4), pages 696-726, December.
    10. Liu, Duan & Yu, Nizhou & Wan, Hong, 2022. "Does water rights trading affect corporate investment? The role of resource allocation and risk mitigation channels," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    11. Claudio Michelacci & Hernán Ruffo, 2015. "Optimal Life Cycle Unemployment Insurance," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(2), pages 816-859, February.
    12. Alexander Hijzen & Sébastien Jean & Thierry Mayer, 2011. "The effects at home of initiating production abroad: evidence from matched French firms," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 147(3), pages 457-483, September.
    13. David Card, 2022. "Design-Based Research in Empirical Microeconomics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(6), pages 1773-1781, June.
    14. Alan B. Krueger & Douglas Kruse, 1995. "Labor Market Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries in the Dawn of the Computer Age," Working Papers 728, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    15. Nobuhiro Kiyotaki & Ricardo Lagos, 2007. "A Model of Job and Worker Flows," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 115(5), pages 770-819, October.
    16. Laiqun Jin & Xiuyan Liu & Sam Hak Kan Tang, 2021. "High-Technology Zones, Misallocation of Resources among Cities and Aggregate Productivity: Evidence from China," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 21-11, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    17. D'Addio, Anna Cristina & De Greef, Isabelle & Rosholm, Michael, 2002. "Assessing Unemployment Traps in Belgium Using Panel Data Sample Selection Models," IZA Discussion Papers 669, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Yolanda Kodrzycki, 2007. "Using unexpected recalls to examine the long-term earnings effects of job displacement," Working Papers 07-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    19. Gabrielle Wills, 2016. "Principal leadership changes in South Africa: Investigating their consequences for school performance," Working Papers 01/2016, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    20. Lídia Farré & Francesco Fasani & Hannes Mueller, 2018. "Feeling useless: the effect of unemployment on mental health in the Great Recession," IZA Journal of Labor Economics, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-34, 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:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16898-:d:1301296. 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.