IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/lauspo/v149y2025ics026483772400365x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Address the challenge of cultivated land abandonment by cultivated land adoption: An evolutionary game perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Sun, Yong
  • Miao, Yiling
  • Xie, Zhiju
  • Jiang, Xingling

Abstract

Cultivated land abandonment constitutes a global phenomenon that poses a significant threat to both the ecological environment and food security. The cultivated land adoption model emerges as an innovative agricultural business paradigm designed to address the challenges of cultivated land abandonment. To scrutinize the intrinsic mechanisms and conditions conducive to effective implementation, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model. It analyzes the synergistic cooperative behaviors and evolutionary stable equilibrium among urban residents, farmers, and the local government within the cultivated land adoption project. The findings reveal the potential for achieving six evolutionary stable equilibrium under specific conditions. Active government regulation, urban residents' adoption, and farmers' cooperation emerge as the ideal scenarios for effective regulation, promoting a substantial reduction in cultivated land abandonment. The government's regulatory conduct assumes a pivotal role in the success of cultivated land adoption project. A government with elevated political efficacy, reduced regulatory costs, significant penalties, and substantial subsidies demonstrates increased motivation and willingness to regulate effectively, thereby fostering cooperation between urban residents and farmers. The equitable distribution of benefits between urban residents and farmers emerges as a critical factor influencing cultivated land adoption initiatives. Urban residents exhibit greater motivation and willingness to participate when afforded increased green preference benefits, local sentiment preference benefits, and additional economic gains through cultivated land adoption. Similarly, farmers are more motivated and willing to cooperate with urban residents when presented with enhanced income opportunities from cultivated land adoption. The findings of this paper contribute to the refinement of land resource management theory and not only synthesize and integrate China's experience with cultivated land adoption but also offer a valuable management model for other countries to address the issue of land abandonment.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Yong & Miao, Yiling & Xie, Zhiju & Jiang, Xingling, 2025. "Address the challenge of cultivated land abandonment by cultivated land adoption: An evolutionary game perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:149:y:2025:i:c:s026483772400365x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107412
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026483772400365X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.landusepol.2024.107412?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xie, Hualin & Chen, Qianru & Wang, Wei & He, Yafen, 2018. "Analyzing the green efficiency of arable land use in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 15-28.
    2. Deininger, Klaus & Jin, Songqing, 2005. "The potential of land rental markets in the process of economic development: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(1), pages 241-270, October.
    3. Taisuke Takayama & Noboru Hashizume & Tomoaki Nakatani, 2020. "Impact of direct payments on agricultural land use in less-favoured areas: evidence from Japan [Effects of differing farm policies on farm structure and dynamics]," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 47(1), pages 157-177.
    4. Hualin Xie & Peng Wang & Guanrong Yao, 2014. "Exploring the Dynamic Mechanisms of Farmland Abandonment Based on a Spatially Explicit Economic Model for Environmental Sustainability: A Case Study in Jiangxi Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Qiming Zheng & Tim Ha & Alexander V. Prishchepov & Yiwen Zeng & He Yin & Lian Pin Koh, 2023. "The neglected role of abandoned cropland in supporting both food security and climate change mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Yang, Qi & Zhang, Daojun, 2021. "The influence of agricultural industrial policy on non-grain production of cultivated land: A case study of the “one village, one product” strategy implemented in Guanzhong Plain of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Sun, Yong & Liu, Baoyin & Sun, Zhongrui & Yang, Ruijia, 2023. "Inter-regional cooperation in the transfers of energy-intensive industry: An evolutionary game approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    8. Su, Baozhong & Li, Yuheng & Li, Lequn & Wang, Yue, 2018. "How does nonfarm employment stability influence farmers' farmland transfer decisions? Implications for China’s land use policy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 66-72.
    9. Zhang, Ying & Li, Xiubin & Shi, Tiechou & Li, Hongwei & Zhai, Liang, 2023. "Understanding cropland abandonment from economics within a representative village and its empirical analysis in Chinese mountainous areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    10. Liangmei Cai & Linping Wang & Manxiu Ning, 2022. "Farmers’ Livelihood Differentiation and Pesticide Application: Empirical Evidence from a Causal Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-12, July.
    11. George W. Norton & Jeffrey Alwang, 2020. "Changes in Agricultural Extension and Implications for Farmer Adoption of New Practices," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 8-20, March.
    12. Qianru Chen, 2022. "Analyzing Farmers’ Cultivated-Land-Abandonment Behavior: Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and a Structural Equation Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Xiangdong Wang & Decheng Zhao, 2023. "Study on the Causes of Differences in Cropland Abandonment Levels among Farming Households Based on Hierarchical Linear Model—13,120 Farming Households in 26 Provinces of China as an Example," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-22, September.
    14. Bashiru Mansaray & Shaosheng Jin & Godwin S. Agbemavor Horlu, 2019. "Do Land Ownership and Agro-Ecological Location of Farmland Influence Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties? Evidence from Sierra Leone," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    15. He, Yafen & Xie, Hualin & Peng, Chaozhong, 2020. "Analyzing the behavioural mechanism of farmland abandonment in the hilly mountainous areas in China from the perspective of farming household diversity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    16. A. J. Challinor & J. Watson & D. B. Lobell & S. M. Howden & D. R. Smith & N. Chhetri, 2014. "A meta-analysis of crop yield under climate change and adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 287-291, April.
    17. Ojha, Roshan Babu & Atreya, Kishor & Kristiansen, Paul & Devkota, Deepa & Wilson, Brian, 2022. "A systematic review and gap analysis of drivers, impacts, and restoration options for abandoned croplands in Nepal," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    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. Song, Hengfei & Li, Xiubin & Xin, Liangjie & Wang, Xue, 2025. "Improving mechanization conditions or encouraging non-grain crop production? Strategies for mitigating farmland abandonment in China’s mountainous areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    2. Song, Wei & Yang, Dazhi & Wang, Yanwei, 2024. "Integrating an abandoned farmland simulation model (AFSM) using system dynamics and CLUE-S for sustainable agriculture," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    3. Chen, Qianru & Wu, Manyu & Xie, Hualin, 2023. "Tillage conditions or social economy? An analysis of the dominant driving force of farmland marginalization from the farmers' perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Yang Guo & Meiling Cui & Zhigang Xu, 2023. "Effect of Spatial Characteristics of Farmland Plots on Transfer Patterns in China: A Supply and Demand Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Zhang, Yuanxia & Halder, Pradipta & Zhang, Xiaoning & Qu, Mei, 2020. "Analyzing the deviation between farmers' Land transfer intention and behavior in China's impoverished mountainous Area: A Logistic-ISM model approach," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. Kai Huang & Xin Deng & Yi Liu & Zhuolin Yong & Dingde Xu, 2020. "Does off-Farm Migration of Female Laborers Inhibit Land Transfer? Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Song, Xiaoqing & Wang, Xiong & Hu, Shougeng & Xiao, Renbin & Scheffran, Jürgen, 2022. "Functional transition of cultivated ecosystems: Underlying mechanisms and policy implications in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Yue Zhang & Guihua Liu & Zhixing Ma & Xin Deng & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "The Influence of Land Attachment on Land Abandonment from the Perspective of Generational Difference: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    9. Guohua Ding & Mingjun Ding & Kun Xie & Jingru Li, 2022. "Driving Mechanisms of Cropland Abandonment from the Perspectives of Household and Topography in the Poyang Lake Region, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-22, June.
    10. 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).
    11. Xiao Lu & Yi Qu & Piling Sun & Wei Yu & Wenlong Peng, 2020. "Green Transition of Cultivated Land Use in the Yellow River Basin: A Perspective of Green Utilization Efficiency Evaluation," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-22, November.
    12. Hong, Changqiao & Prishchepov, Alexander V. & Bavorova, Miroslava, 2024. "Cropland abandonment in mountainous China: Patterns and determinants at multiple scales and policy implications," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    13. Qianru Chen, 2022. "Analyzing Farmers’ Cultivated-Land-Abandonment Behavior: Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and a Structural Equation Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Wenjing Han & Zhengfeng Zhang & Xiaoling Zhang & Li He, 2021. "Farmland Rental Participation, Agricultural Productivity, and Household Income: Evidence from Rural China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, August.
    15. Buting Hong & Jicheng Wang & Jiangtao Xiao & Quanzhi Yuan & Ping Ren, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Patterns and Determinants of Cropland Abandonment in Mountainous Regions of China: A Case Study of Sichuan Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-25, March.
    16. Jiang Du & Miao Zeng & Zhengjuan Xie & Shikun Wang, 2019. "Power of Agricultural Credit in Farmland Abandonment: Evidence from Rural China," Land, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-14, December.
    17. Juan Zhang & Qinping Chen & Hongxi Chen & Zehua Feng, 2023. "How Does Farmland Tenure Security Affect Rural Household Income? Empirical Evidence of China’s Survey Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, March.
    18. Ruishi Si & Yumeng Yao & Xueqian Zhang & Qian Lu & Noshaba Aziz, 2022. "Exploring the Role of Contiguous Farmland Cultivation and Adoption of No-Tillage Technology in Improving Transferees’ Income Structure: Evidence from China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-25, April.
    19. Chaozhu Li & Xiaoliang Li & Jiaxu Wang & Tianchu Feng, 2023. "Impacts of Aging Agricultural Labor Force on Land Transfer: An Empirical Analysis Based on the China Family Panel Studies," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, January.
    20. Lili Chen & Hongsheng Chen & Chaohui Zou & Ye Liu, 2021. "The Impact of Farmland Transfer on Rural Households’ Income Structure in the Context of Household Differentiation: A Case Study of Heilongjiang Province, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.

    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:eee:lauspo:v:149:y:2025:i:c:s026483772400365x. 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: Joice Jiang (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/land-use-policy .

    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.