Agricultural Economics - In Press
Digital finance, agricultural industrialization, and inclusive economic growth in ChinaOriginal Paper
hao yunping
This study develops a theoretical analytical framework to examine the impact of digital finance on agricultural industrialisation and investigates the effects of both digital finance and agricultural industrialisation on inclusive economic growth, utilising interprovincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. The findings indicate that digital finance is conducive to economic inclusion and can enhance economic inclusion through the promotion of agricultural industrialisation. Furthermore, agricultural industrialisation serves as a vital conduit through which digital finance influences inclusive economic growth. This study highlights that the inclusive growth effect of digital finance escalates in conjunction with inclusive economic growth. By fostering the development of digital finance, this study advances agricultural industrialisation and contributes to the enhancement of inclusive economic growth, thereby offering policy insights to promote such growth.
Agricultural digitalisation, farmland-scale management and agroecological efficiency: Evidence from ChinaOriginal Paper
Fei Wang, Jianguo Sun, Dong Xue
This study examines how agricultural digitalisation affects agroecological efficiency, with the aim of informing the transition towards low-carbon, high-quality agricultural development. Using provincial panel data from China (2007–2022), we employ fixed-effects, spatial Durbin, and mediation models for empirical analysis. The results reveal three main findings: (1) The impact of agricultural digitalisation on agroecological efficiency presents a productivity paradox, characterised by a U-shaped relationship of initial suppression followed by promotion, a finding that remains robust after endogeneity is addressed and sensitivity checks are conducted. (2) Agricultural digitalisation generates significant positive spatial spillover effects on neighbouring regions' agroecological efficiency. However, the realisation of these spillovers is contingent on the alignment between diffused technologies and local agricultural infrastructure. (3) Farmland-scale management serves as a critical mediating channel. Furthermore, agricultural organisation—through stabilising profit expectations for scaled operators and facilitating land transfer through reduced tenure disputes—positively moderates the effective integration of digital technologies into agricultural practices. The findings suggest that digitally empowered sustainability goes beyond technological determinism. We recommend improving rural digital infrastructure, promoting land transfer, and reinforcing village-level collective economies to enhance agricultural organisation. Although it is geographically focused on China, this study offers theoretical and policy insights for advancing sustainable agriculture through digitalisation.