IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/asiaps/v12y2025i1ne70004.html

Rural Transformation, Water Scarcity and Policy Responses in China

Author

Listed:
  • Jinxia Wang
  • Zhiyi Guo
  • Dong Wang
  • Kaixing Huang
  • Zhuanlin Wang
  • Ruoying Mei
  • Rujuan Li
  • Jikun Huang
  • Chenhui Zhang
  • Chunlai Chen

Abstract

This study examines the complex interplay between rural transformation and water scarcity in China, focussing on how shifts towards high‐value agriculture and non‐farm employment affect water resources. Utilising data spanning 2 decades, it evaluates the impact of economic activities on water scarcity through the lens of the Environmental Kuznets Curve. The analysis reveals regional variations in water usage and scarcity, highlighting the need for tailored water management strategies that incorporate both supply and demand aspects. By aligning rural economic development with sustainable water use, the paper offers insights into policy adjustments crucial for balancing growth with environmental stewardship, particularly in light of Chinaʼs green economy transition and its implications for similar developing regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinxia Wang & Zhiyi Guo & Dong Wang & Kaixing Huang & Zhuanlin Wang & Ruoying Mei & Rujuan Li & Jikun Huang & Chenhui Zhang & Chunlai Chen, 2025. "Rural Transformation, Water Scarcity and Policy Responses in China," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaps:v:12:y:2025:i:1:n:e70004
    DOI: 10.1002/app5.70004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.70004
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/app5.70004?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jikun Huang & Pengfei Shi, 2021. "Regional rural and structural transformations and farmer's income in the past four decades in China," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 278-301, January.
    2. Nouri, Milad & Homaee, Mehdi & Pereira, Luis S. & Bybordi, Mohammad, 2023. "Water management dilemma in the agricultural sector of Iran: A review focusing on water governance," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    3. Jinxia Wang & Yunyun Zhu & Tianhe Sun & Jikun Huang & Lijuan Zhang & Baozhu Guan & Qiuqiong Huang, 2020. "Forty years of irrigation development and reform in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(1), pages 126-149, January.
    4. Bwambale, Erion & Abagale, Felix K. & Anornu, Geophrey K., 2022. "Smart irrigation monitoring and control strategies for improving water use efficiency in precision agriculture: A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    5. Jinxia Wang & Henning Bjornlund & K. K. Klein & Lijuan Zhang & Wencui Zhang, 2016. "Factors that Influence the Rate and Intensity of Adoption of Improved Irrigation Technologies in Alberta, Canada," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(03), pages 1-32, September.
    6. Susmita Dasgupta & Benoit Laplante & Hua Wang & David Wheeler, 2002. "Confronting the Environmental Kuznets Curve," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 16(1), pages 147-168, Winter.
    7. Jikun Huang & Pengfei Shi, 2021. "Regional rural and structural transformations and farmer's income in the past four decades in China," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(2), pages 278-301, January.
    8. Gene M. Grossman & Alan B. Krueger, 1991. "Environmental Impacts of a North American Free Trade Agreement," NBER Working Papers 3914, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Mengru Wang & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Rhodé Rijneveld & Felicitas Beier & Mirjam P. Bak & Masooma Batool & Bram Droppers & Alexander Popp & Michelle T. H. Vliet & Maryna Strokal, 2024. "A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    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. Yang, Xing & Hou, Miao & Zhang, Wenye & Ju, Yan & Wang, Zhihuan, 2025. "Optimization of agricultural water price setting strategy and government subsidy mechanisms based on game analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).

    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. Pengfei Shi & Jikun Huang, 2025. "Irrigation Expansion and Rural Transformation in China: Evidence of Provincial Data in 1978–2018," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), January.
    2. Tiantian Zhou & Xingshuo Liu & Siying Jia & Yu Sheng, 2025. "Exploring the Impact of Irrigation on Chinaʼs Crop TFP: Insights From a Structural Break Analysis," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(1), January.
    3. Nasreen, Samia & Anwar, Sofia & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2017. "Financial stability, energy consumption and environmental quality: Evidence from South Asian economies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1105-1122.
    4. Pronti, Andrea & Auci, Sabrina & Berbel, Julio, 2024. "Water conservation and saving technologies for irrigation. A structured literature review of econometric studies on the determinants of adoption," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    5. Wulai Jijue & Junlan Xiang & Xin Yi & Xiaowen Dai & Chenming Tang & Yuying Liu, 2024. "Market Participation and Farmers’ Adoption of Green Control Techniques: Evidence from China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Abou-Ali, Hala & Abdelfattah, Yasmine M., 2013. "Integrated paradigm for sustainable development: A panel data study," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 334-342.
    7. Marbuah, George & Gren, Ing-Marie, 2015. "Carbon emission and social capital in Sweden," Working Paper Series 2015:5, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department Economics.
    8. Long, Hai & Li, Wen-Wei & Otrakçı, Caner, 2023. "Sustaining environment through natural resource and human development: Revisiting EKC curve in China through BARDL," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    9. Felix Nutakor & Sylvestre Bizumuremyi & Jinke Li & Wei Liu, 2020. "Does the Environmental Kuznets Curve for CO 2 Emissions Exist for Rwanda? Evidence from Bootstrapped Rolling-Window Granger Causality Test," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-11, October.
    10. Richard T. Carson, 2010. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve: Seeking Empirical Regularity and Theoretical Structure," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 4(1), pages 3-23, Winter.
    11. Farah Naz & Abedullah & Maria Fay Rola‐Rubzen, 2025. "Analysis of Gender‐Inclusive Rural Transformation and Policies in Pakistan," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), May.
    12. Barra, Cristian & Falcone, Pasquale Marcello & Giganti, Patrizio, 2025. "Exploring the impact of economic, climate, and energy policy uncertainty on the Environmental Kuznets Curve: International evidence," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    13. Ariane Amin & Johanna Choumert, 2015. "Development and biodiversity conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A spatial analysis," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(1), pages 729-744.
    14. Rinku Manocha, 2024. "Do FDI Flows Lead to Environmental Degradation in Developing Economies? A Case Study of Select Asian Economies," Vision, , vol. 28(2), pages 237-250, April.
    15. Longden, Thomas, "undated". "Going Forward by Looking Backwards on the Environmental Kuznets Curve: an Analysis of CFCs, CO2 and the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols," Climate Change and Sustainable Development 183540, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    16. Anver C. Sadath & Rajesh H. Acharya, 2019. "Economic growth and environmental degradation: How to balance the interests of developed and developing countries," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2), pages 25-47.
    17. Catalina Granda & Luis Guillermo Pérez & Juan Carlos Munoz, 2008. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve for Water Quality: An Analysis of its Appropriateness Using Unit Root and Cointegration Tests," Revista Lecturas de Economía, Universidad de Antioquia, CIE.
    18. Torres-Brito, David Israel & Cruz-Aké, Salvador & Venegas-Martínez, Francisco, 2023. "Impacto de los contaminantes por gases de efecto invernadero en el crecimiento económico en 86 países (1990-2019): Sobre la curva inversa de Kuznets [Impact of the Effect of Greenhouse Gas Pollutants on Economic Growth in 86 Countries (1990-2019):," MPRA Paper 119031, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Hui Li & Robert P. Berrens & Therese Grijalva, 2007. "Economic growth and environmental quality: a meta-analysis of environmental Kuznets curve studies," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 17(5), pages 1-11.
    20. Luzzati, T. & Orsini, M., 2009. "Investigating the energy-environmental Kuznets curve," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 291-300.

    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:asiaps:v:12:y:2025:i:1:n:e70004. 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: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=2050-2680 .

    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.