The Hollowing Process of Rural Communities in China: Considering the Regional Characteristic

Abstract

This study examined the hollowing process of rural communities, which is caused by migration, and explored its influence factors based on Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) analysis in an attempt to explore effect of regional characteristic. To capture the essence of rural hollowing, a logical framework was constructed. The rural hollowing was then evaluated based on an index system. Based on the assessment, HLM analysis was conducted to explore the influence factors at the household and community levels. The results demonstrated significant differences of rural hollowing among villages. In addition, the hollowing was not only affected by household-level variables but also by community-level variables. Further, for rural hollowing, the household-level variable was endogenous drive, while the community-level variables were exogenous drive. Among all the endogenous influence factors, population quality was the most important, and thus the loss of highly educated talents will aggravate the trend of rural hollowing and hinder the sustainable development of the countryside. Furthermore, in addition to promoting economic development and its diversification to alleviate rural hollowing, improving the quality of the population is more important to the sustainable development of the countryside in China.

Characterizing Sprawl Development in Urban China: A Perspective from Urban Amenity

“…It could be because these subdistricts are considered critical ecological spaces according to the master plan for Wuhan's territorial space, severely limiting the development of built-up areas. Moreover, these areas are usually identified as rural hollowing areas, which should be a concern for rural development [75].…”

The relationship between home and community-based healthcare service utilization and depressive symptoms in older adults in rural China: A moderated mediation model

“…In the face of growing rural hollowing-out, the majority of the young or middle-aged workforce migrates to urban areas for work [20], thus rural older adults mainly rely on the companionship and care of their spouses for social support [21]. Married rural older adults tend to receive more nancial, physical, emotional, and instrumental assistance, contributing to lower IADL disabilities compared with those without a spouse [22,23].…”

Regional Differences, Temporal Evolution, and Drivers of Rural Hollowing in Coastal Provinces: A Case Study of Fujian Province

“…During that era, limitations within the rural land contract system prompted a trend of "constructing new residences without demolishing old ones" in rural locales, leading to certain affluent farmers amassing multiple properties [5,7]. Over time, this unchecked expansion of rural housing, coupled with a high rate of vacancy, eventually evolved into the recognized phenomenon of rural hollowing [8]. Furthermore, the capacity for non-agricultural employment in a given region is intrinsically tied to its economic advancement.…”

“…Scholars hailing from diverse disciplines, including sociology, economics, and geography, have diligently undertaken extensive investigation into the phenomenon of rural hollowing. Sociological methodologies have been adeptly utilized to delve into the erosion of social capital and the dissolution of communities caused by rural hollowing [8,12]. Economic analyses have scrutinized shifts in employment dynamics and the ever-widening income disparity [13].…”