IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i9p3879-d1642545.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Study on the Relationship Between Rural E-Commerce Development and Farmers’ Income Growth

Author

Listed:
  • Hui Liu

    (Jin Cheng College of Nanjing, University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211156, China)

  • Meiqin Ding

    (Jin Cheng College of Nanjing, University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211156, China)

  • Yujin Kan

    (Jin Cheng College of Nanjing, University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211156, China)

  • Qi Dong

    (Jin Cheng College of Nanjing, University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211156, China)

Abstract

The development of rural e-commerce is conducive to expanding channels for increasing farmers’ income. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth in 31 provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions) across China. First, based on a review of relevant literature, an index system for rural e-commerce development was constructed, and the entropy weight method was used to measure the comprehensive index of national rural e-commerce development. Next, a panel data regression model was established to analyze the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth, followed by regional heterogeneity analysis and robustness tests. The analysis found that during the study period, China’s rural e-commerce development level increased year by year, but there were regional differences; the development of rural e-commerce in China has a significant positive impact on farmers’ income growth, but the degree of impact varies across different regions. Finally, suggestions are put forward to promote the further development of rural e-commerce in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui Liu & Meiqin Ding & Yujin Kan & Qi Dong, 2025. "A Study on the Relationship Between Rural E-Commerce Development and Farmers’ Income Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-27, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3879-:d:1642545
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3879/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3879/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shimamoto, Daichi & Yamada, Hiroyuki & Gummert, Martin, 2015. "Mobile phones and market information: Evidence from rural Cambodia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 135-141.
    2. Pierre Courtois & Julie Subervie, 2015. "Farmer Bargaining Power and Market Information Services," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 97(3), pages 953-977.
    3. Xin Li & Xiangmei Zhu & Huwei Cao & Wenhua Huang, 2025. "Research on the Paths of the Modern Agricultural Industrial System Promoting Income Increases and Prosperity for Farmers Based on the fsQCA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-28, March.
    4. Lin Tian & Asoo J. Vakharia & Yinliang (Ricky) Tan & Yifan Xu, 2018. "Marketplace, Reseller, or Hybrid: Strategic Analysis of an Emerging E‐Commerce Model," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 27(8), pages 1595-1610, August.
    5. Canjiang Zhu & Weiyi Luo, 2024. "An Empirical Study on the Coupling Coordination and Driving Factors of Rural Revitalization and Rural E-Commerce in the Context of the Digital Economy: The Case of Hunan Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-24, April.
    6. Ng, Eric, 2005. "Types of B2B E-Business Model Commonly Used: An Empirical Study On Australian Agribusines Firms," Australasian Agribusiness Review, University of Melbourne, Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, vol. 13.
    7. Robert Jensen, 2007. "The Digital Provide: Information (Technology), Market Performance, and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(3), pages 879-924.
    8. Fang Sun & Jia Li, 2022. "Research on the Development Mechanism of Rural E-Commerce Based on Rooted Theory: A Co-Benefit-Oriented Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    9. Yan Wang & Yongjie Wu, 2025. "Digital Economy, Rural E-Commerce Development, and Farmers’ Employment Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, March.
    10. Komatsu, Sho & Suzuki, Aya, 2021. "The Impact of Rural E-Commerce Development on Rural Income and Urban-Rural Income Inequality in China: A Panel Data Analysis," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315050, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Na Guo & Hui Chen, 2022. "Comprehensive Evaluation and Obstacle Factor Analysis of High-Quality Development of Rural E-Commerce in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    12. Heng Li & Shangguang Yang, 2023. "The Road to Common Prosperity: Can the Digital Countryside Construction Increase Household Income?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, February.
    13. Xiaoxia Li, 2022. "Research on the Development Level of Rural E-Commerce in China Based on Analytic Hierarchy and Systematic Clustering Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    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. Lee, Guenwoo & Suzuki, Aya & Kim, Yu Ri, 2021. "The Role of Agricultural Market Information on Farmers' Agricultural Outcomes: Evidence from Smallholder Coffee Producers in Ethiopia," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-110, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    2. Eduardo Nakasone & Maximo Torero, 2016. "A text message away: ICTs as a tool to improve food security," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 47(S1), pages 49-59, November.
    3. Jianxin Guo & Songqing Jin & Lei Chen & Jichun Zhao, 2018. "Impacts of Distance Education on Agricultural Performance and Household Income: Micro-Evidence from Peri-Urban Districts in Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Yaw Nyarko, 2017. "Transforming Rural Africa-Economics, Technology and Governance," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 19(1), pages 161-167.
    5. 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).
    6. Dagim G. Belay & Hailemariam Ayalew, 2020. "Nudging farmers in crop choice using price information: Evidence from Ethiopian Commodity Exchange," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(5), pages 793-808, September.
    7. Zant, Wouter, 2024. "Mobile phones and Mozambique farmers: Less asymmetric information and more trader competition?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    8. Yong Zha & Quan Li & Tingliang Huang & Yugang Yu, 2023. "Strategic Information Sharing of Online Platforms as Resellers or Marketplaces," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 659-678, July.
    9. Blumenstock, Joshua & Dillon, Brian & Aker, Jenny, 2020. "How Important is the Yellow Pages? Experimental Evidence from Tanzania," CEPR Discussion Papers 14489, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Rajkhowa, Pallavi & Qaim, Matin, 2022. "Mobile phones, women's physical mobility, and contraceptive use in India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    11. Abate, Gashaw T. & Abay, Kibrom A. & Chamberlin, Jordan & Kassim, Yumna & Spielman, David J. & Paul Jr Tabe-Ojong, Martin, 2023. "Digital tools and agricultural market transformation in Africa: Why are they not at scale yet, and what will it take to get there?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    12. Fred Mawunyo Dzanku & Robert Osei & Isaac Osei‐Akoto, 2021. "The impact of mobile phone voice message reminders on agricultural outcomes in Mali," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(5), pages 789-806, September.
    13. Pallavi Rajkhowa & Matin Qaim, 2022. "Mobile phones, off‐farm employment and household income in rural India," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(3), pages 789-805, September.
    14. David-Benz, Hélène & Andriandralambo, Norontsoa & Soanjara, Helgina & Chimirri, Chiara & Rahelizatovo, Noro & Rivolala, Bezaka, 2016. "Improving access to market information: a driver of change in marketing strategies for small producers?," 149th Seminar, October 27-28, 2016, Rennes, France 245073, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Brian Dillon & Chelsey Dambro, 2017. "How Competitive Are Crop Markets in Sub-Saharan Africa?," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 99(5), pages 1344-1361.
    16. Matous, Petr, 2017. "Complementarity and substitution between physical and virtual travel for instrumental information sharing in remote rural regions: A social network approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 61-79.
    17. Soldani, Emilia & Hildebrandt, Nicole & Nyarko, Yaw & Romagnoli, Giorgia, 2023. "Price information, inter-village networks, and “bargaining spillovers”: Experimental evidence from Ghana," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    18. Cai Zhou & Bowen Li, 2023. "How does e‐commerce demonstration city improve urban innovation? Evidence from China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 915-940, October.
    19. Munsaka, Eustensia, 2018. "The use of information sharing systems to address opportunistic behaviour between tomato farmers and brokers in Zambia," Research Theses 334750, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    20. World Bank, 2022. "Cultivating Opportunities for Faster Rural Income Growth and Poverty Reduction," World Bank Publications - Reports 37217, The World Bank Group.

    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:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3879-:d:1642545. 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.