Driving rural industry revitalization in the digital economy era: Exploring strategies and pathways in China

Abstract

In the context of the digital economy, achieving rural industrial revitalization in China hinges on digitization. This study delves into the synergistic mechanisms of diverse factors that contribute to Rural Industrial Revitalization across three dimensions: technology, organization, and environment. To investigate these mechanisms, a combination of the necessary condition analysis method and the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method is employed. The research findings indicate that no necessary conditions exist for achieving high-level rural industrial revitalization. However, digital infrastructure and the digital financial environment have a universally significant impact. The study identifies four distinct pathways driving high-level rural industrial revitalization: digitaldriven, digital-government-talentdriven, digital-enterprisedriven, and digital-enterprise-talentdriven. Furthermore, significant variations exist in the driving pathways for rural industrial revitalization among the eastern, central, and western regions of China. By unveiling the multifaceted mechanisms underpinning the revitalization of rural industries, this research provides valuable practical insights for the future development of rural industries in China.