Effects of Entrepreneurial Activities on Rural Revitalization: Based on Dissipative Structure Theory

Abstract

Entrepreneurial activities are crucial for activating the endogenous power of the countryside, promoting integrated urban and rural development, and achieving comprehensive rural revitalization. This paper empirically examines the mechanisms through which entrepreneurial activities influence rural revitalization by incorporating the theory of dissipative structures into the research paradigm of rural revitalization. Using interdisciplinary analysis methods, it deeply analyzes the underlying logic of entrepreneurial activities affecting rural revitalization, relying on panel data from 2045 counties from 2011 to 2020. The study finds that entrepreneurial activities attract negative entropy flows, such as information and materials, into the rural revitalization system by increasing employment opportunities and promoting capital agglomeration. This fosters a stable and orderly dissipative structure within the system, thereby empowering comprehensive rural revitalization. The heterogeneity test indicates that the promotion effect of entrepreneurial activities on rural revitalization is more pronounced in the eastern region and non-e-commerce demonstration counties. Further research reveals that the facilitating effect of entrepreneurial activities on the rural revitalization system is particularly evident in four dimensions: ecological viability, a civilized rural culture, effective governance, and an affluent life. This study provides theoretical and empirical support for implementing the rural revitalization strategy in China.