What the study found
The study found that a pilot hometown-return entrepreneurship policy has a significantly positive effect on agricultural economic resilience in China. The effect is stronger in western China and smaller in eastern China.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings help explain both the extent to which and the mechanisms through which the policy enhances agricultural economic resilience. They also state that regions should strengthen policy support and guidance for returning farmers and improve regional attractiveness based on local conditions.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used panel data from 2005 counties in China from 2012 to 2022. They applied a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model, which compares changes over time between policy and non-policy areas, together with a mediating effect approach to examine mechanisms.
What worked and what didn't
Agricultural economic resilience showed a steady upward trend and clear spatial differences, described as high in the east and north and low in the west and south. The pilot policy was associated with a positive increase in resilience, and this positive impact was more pronounced in western China and less substantial in eastern China.
Mechanism analysis suggested that higher farmers' income and the rationalization of industrial structure were the main channels linking the policy to greater agricultural economic resilience.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe specific limitations beyond the study's focus on China's county-level data from 2012 to 2022. The summary provided here is limited to the information stated in the title and abstract.
Key points
- A pilot hometown-return entrepreneurship policy is reported to significantly improve agricultural economic resilience.
- The positive effect is stronger in western China and weaker in eastern China.
- Agricultural economic resilience is described as rising over time and unevenly distributed across regions.
- Higher farmers' income and industrial-structure rationalization are identified as key transmission channels.
- The study uses county-level panel data from China covering 2012 to 2022.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Hometown-return entrepreneurship boosts agricultural resilience
- Authors:
- Xiaowen Yu, Hongyu Ma
- Institutions:
- Northwest Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-30
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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