An introduction to rural and agricultural development in the digital age

Abstract

This special issue contributes to the development economics literature by highlighting the role of information communication and technologies (ICTs) in supporting rural and agricultural development. It is comprised of nine papers. Key findings from this special issue include: (1) internet use increases rural consumption diversity and agricultural productivity; (2) smartphone use empowers rural women in household decision‐making and off‐farm work participation; (3) smartphone‐based agricultural extension services boost rural income growth; (4) a lack of ICT infrastructure and inadequate skills to use digital technologies are two key factors that lead to digital poverty traps for smallholder rural farmers; (5) ICT adoption increases the probability of rural households' access to credit and empowers rural women and farm households in relatively less developed regions to access credit; (6) digital financial inclusion reduces farmers' vulnerability to poverty; and (7) e‐commerce adoption increases both sales prices and marketing costs, but the magnitude of increasing the former is higher than the magnitude of increasing the latter, which finally contributes to a higher gross return. This special issue also proposes practical instruments and implications for advancing the application of ICTs in rural areas to accelerate rural and agricultural development in the digital age.

The impact of digital economy on rural revitalization: Evidence from Guangdong, China

“…The index system for measuring the digital economy usually includes digital infrastructure [ 33 ], industrial digitization [ 48 ], digital industrialization [ 48 ]and digital innovation [ 46 ]. With reference to the literature, the index system for measuring the digital economy is concerned with the following four aspects: digital infrastructure, industrial digitization, digital industrialization and digital innovation.…”

“…Digital economic development tends to be spatially nonlinear [ 32 ]. Wang and Cen (2022) found that the nonlinear characterization of the increasing marginal effect of the digital economy on innovation efficiency [ 33 ]. Digitization and digital economic development have significant impacts on employment, household income, and investment, but these impacts vary across groups and regions due to differences in the availability of digital infrastructure, digital economic activities, levels of economic development, educational attainment and industry and employment structures [ 31 , [34] , [35] , [36] ].…”

“…The digital economy has significant spatial spillover effects [ 33 , 37 ]. The digital economy is characterized by being virtually independent of geographic and administrative boundaries, enabling the cross-regional allocation of factors of production [ 38 ], including manpower, capital, information and innovation [ 33 ].…”

“…The digital economy has significant spatial spillover effects [ 33 , 37 ]. The digital economy is characterized by being virtually independent of geographic and administrative boundaries, enabling the cross-regional allocation of factors of production [ 38 ], including manpower, capital, information and innovation [ 33 ]. For example, Internet platforms and inclusive finance to the countryside have enabled one region to have an impact on another, creating spatial spillover effects [ 39 ].…”

Agricultural productivity‐environmental sustainability nexus through the lens of digitalization and energy intensity in BRICS countries

“…For example, Nguyen et al (2023) and Zhuo et al (2023) for Vietnam and China reported that internet facilities and smartphone use are positive determinants of agriculture. Simultaneously, Ma, Mckay, et al (2023) supported that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) products are facilitating to improve the agricultural productivity. The convergence of technological improvements and comprehensive digitalization in emerging countries has shown a novel dimension in the global job migration pattern, causing significant demographic changes (Ahmed et al, 2016).…”