IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/agecon/v53y2022i6p938-952.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Facilitating inclusive ICT application and e‐Commerce development in rural China

Author

Listed:
  • Jikun Huang
  • Lanlan Su
  • Qiwang Huang
  • Xinyu Liu

Abstract

Application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in general and e‐commerce development in particular are increasingly becoming one of the important driving forces of transforming rural economy in China. Based on two sets of household survey datasets in 2015–2019, this study documents the overall trends of major ICTs’ and e‐commerce adoption in rural China and farmers’ selling fruits online in more developed e‐commerce villages in two provinces, and examines the enabling and constraining factors for farmers adopting ICTs and using e‐commerce to sell products. The results show that, although the increase has been impressive, there is still plenty of room for the diffusion of ICTs and e‐commerce. Empirical analyses suggest that human capital, social networks, resource endowments, ICT infrastructure and location are the main determinants of a household's or an individual's adoption of ICTs, and the producer's selling his/her fruits through e‐commerce. Moreover, this study provides new and strong evidence of intergenerational support for older and less educated farmers from their children to engage in online sales. However, this study also points out that a new digital divide on the spread of ICTs and e‐commerce has emerged across regions and among farmers in rural China. The article concludes with several policy implications for fostering rapid and inclusive ICT application and e‐commerce development in rural areas in the coming digital era.

Suggested Citation

  • Jikun Huang & Lanlan Su & Qiwang Huang & Xinyu Liu, 2022. "Facilitating inclusive ICT application and e‐Commerce development in rural China," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(6), pages 938-952, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:53:y:2022:i:6:p:938-952
    DOI: 10.1111/agec.12728
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12728
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/agec.12728?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liikanen, Jukka & Stoneman, Paul & Toivanen, Otto, 2004. "Intergenerational effects in the diffusion of new technology: the case of mobile phones," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 22(8-9), pages 1137-1154, November.
    2. Li, Xiaokang & Guo, Hongdong & Jin, Songqing & Ma, Wanglin & Zeng, Yiwu, 2021. "Do farmers gain internet dividends from E-commerce adoption? Evidence from China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Wanglin Ma & Xiaoshi Zhou & Min Liu, 2020. "What drives farmers’ willingness to adopt e‐commerce in rural China? The role of Internet use," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(1), pages 159-163, January.
    4. Jenny C. Aker & Isaac M. Mbiti, 2010. "Mobile Phones and Economic Development in Africa," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 207-232, Summer.
    5. Jenny C. Aker, 2011. "Dial “A” for agriculture: a review of information and communication technologies for agricultural extension in developing countries," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 42(6), pages 631-647, November.
    6. Christian Mbayo Kabango & Asa Romeo Asa, 2015. "Factors influencing e-commerce development: Implications for the developing countries," International Journal of Innovation and Economic Development, Inovatus Services Ltd., vol. 1(1), pages 59-66, April.
    7. Rebecca Hartje & Michael Hübler, 2017. "Smartphones support smart labour," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(7), pages 467-471, April.
    8. Uwe Deichmann & Aparajita Goyal & Deepak Mishra, 2016. "Will digital technologies transform agriculture in developing countries?," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 47(S1), pages 21-33, November.
    9. Charles F. Manski, 1993. "Identification of Endogenous Social Effects: The Reflection Problem," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 60(3), pages 531-542.
    10. Jenny C. Aker, 2011. "Dial “A” for Agriculture: A Review of Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries - Working Paper 269," Working Papers 269, Center for Global Development.
    11. Victor Couture & Benjamin Faber & Yizhen Gu & Lizhi Liu, 2021. "Connecting the Countryside via E-Commerce: Evidence from China," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 3(1), pages 35-50, March.
    12. Shannon Freeman & Hannah R. Marston & Janna Olynick & Charles Musselwhite & Cory Kulczycki & Rebecca Genoe & Beibei Xiong, 2020. "Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-14, August.
    13. 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.
    14. Luo,Xubei & Niu,Chiyu, 2019. "E-Commerce Participation and Household Income Growth in Taobao Villages," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8811, The World Bank.
    15. Eduardo Nakasone & Maximo Torero & Bart Minten, 2014. "The Power of Information: The ICT Revolution in Agricultural Development," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 533-550, October.
    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. 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).
    2. Nawab Khan & Ram L. Ray & Hazem S. Kassem & Farhat Ullah Khan & Muhammad Ihtisham & Shemei Zhang, 2022. "Does the Adoption of Mobile Internet Technology Promote Wheat Productivity? Evidence from Rural Farmers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. 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.
    4. Sekabira, Haruna & Qaim, Matin, 2017. "Can mobile phones improve gender equality and nutrition? Panel data evidence from farm households in Uganda," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 95-103.
    5. 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).
    6. Lukman O. Oyelami & Nurudeen Afolabi Sofoluwe & Omowumi Monisola Ajeigbe, 2022. "ICT and agricultural sector performance: empirical evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Sekabira, Haruna & Qaim, Matin, 2016. "Mobile Money, Agricultural Marketing, and Off-Farm Income in Uganda," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 234998, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    8. Yi Cai & Wene Qi & Famin Yi, 2023. "Smartphone use and willingness to adopt digital pest and disease management: Evidence from litchi growers in rural China," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(1), pages 131-147, January.
    9. Howell, Rachel & van Beers, Cees & Doorn, Neelke, 2018. "Value capture and value creation: The role of information technology in business models for frugal innovations in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 227-239.
    10. Ni Zhuo & Baozhi Li & Qibiao Zhu & Chen Ji, 2023. "Smartphone‐based agricultural extension services and farm incomes: Evidence from Zhejiang Province in China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 1383-1402, August.
    11. Sekabira, Haruna & Qaim, Matin, 2017. "Can Mobile Phones Improve Gender Equality and Nutrition? Panel Data Evidence from Farm Households in Uganda," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 256215, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    12. Fang, Lan & Quan, Yurong & Mao, Hui & Chen, Shaojian, 2022. "The Information Communication Technology and Off-farm Employment of Rural Laborers: An Analysis Based on the Micro Data of China Family Panel Studies," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322088, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Kondylis, Florence & Mueller, Valerie, 2012. "Seeing is Believing? Evidence from a Demonstration Plot Experiment in Mozambique:," MSSP working papers 1, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    14. Wantchekon, Leonard & Riaz, Zara, 2019. "Mobile technology and food access," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 344-356.
    15. Cai, Yi & Sun, Yucheng & Qi, Wene & Yi, Famin, 2022. "Impact of smartphone use on production outsourcing: evidence from litchi farming in southern China," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 25(4), September.
    16. Melia, Elvis, 2019. "The impact of information and communication technologies on jobs in Africa: a literature review," IDOS Discussion Papers 3/2019, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    17. Shen, Zhiyang & Wang, Songkai & Boussemart, Jean-Philippe & Hao, Yu, 2022. "Digital transition and green growth in Chinese agriculture," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    18. Deng, Xin & Xu, Dingde & Zeng, Miao & Qi, Yanbin, 2019. "Does Internet use help reduce rural cropland abandonment? Evidence from China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    19. Joël Cariolle & David A Carroll, 2022. "The Use of Digital for Public Service Provision in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers hal-03004535, HAL.
    20. Cieslik, Katarzyna & Cecchi, Francesco & Assefa Damtew, Elias & Tafesse, Shiferaw & Struik, Paul C. & Lemaga, Berga & Leeuwis, Cees, 2021. "The role of ICT in collective management of public bads: The case of potato late blight in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:bla:agecon:v:53:y:2022:i:6:p:938-952. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/iaaeeea.html .

    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.