The Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms of Rural Revitalization in Western China

Abstract

By constructing a rural revitalization index evaluation system and using measurement models and software such as AHP, the entropy method, the BCG matrix, and GeoDetector, this paper quantitatively analyzed the evolution mode and driving mechanism of rural revitalization performance based on the research of 131 cities and autonomous prefectures in western China to further put forward relevant policy suggestions and establish a new framework that integrates “performance evaluation, evolution model, driving mechanism, and management strategy”. Findings: firstly, rural revitalization in western China showed slow development and significant regional heterogeneity, with a coefficient of variation of 0.46 or even higher; secondly, the different dimensions of rural revitalization and development varied greatly, with the order being: thriving businesses (about 0.04) < effective governance (about 0.06) < pleasant living environment (about 0.09) < social etiquette and civility (about 1.0) < prosperity (about 0.23); thirdly, the growth and decline of rural revitalization performance coexisted in the context of rapid development in western China, and the evolution was in diversified patterns; fourthly, there were many factors affecting the change of rural revitalization performance, and different factors exhibited significant synergistic effects with each other, with super-interacting factor pairs having a force of over 0. 7 (maximum 1), including permanent population, urbanization rate, added value of primary industry, and per capita GDP as key factors; fifthly, based on the superposition analysis of the evolution pattern and driving forces of rural revitalization, western cities are classified into 8 types (including external assistance zone, general development zone, general retention zone, general demonstration zone, internal governance zone, important development zone, important retention zone, important demonstration zone) for establishment of a zoning planning and management system and design of differentiated development policies, providing a basis for “evidence-based decision-making” for the government.