Research on the Impact Mechanism and Spatial Spillover Effect of Digital Economy on Rural Revitalization: An Empirical Study Based on China’s Provinces

Abstract

Digital Road is the new direction of rural revitalization, and the digital economy empowers rural revitalization as a new driving force for the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas. Currently, the studies on the digital economy and rural revitalization are focused on a certain dimension and lack research on the influence mechanism of the digital economy driving rural revitalization and their spatial effects under the same framework. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, the paper explores the influence mechanism of rural revitalization driven by the digital economy and their spatial spillover effects by using the benchmark regression model, intermediary effect model and spatial Durbin model, and draws the following conclusions: (1) Digital economy can significantly promote rural revitalization. (2) Digital economy can significantly promote the revitalization of rural areas by transforming industrial structure and rural entrepreneurship. (3) The development of the digital economy will significantly promote the revitalization of villages in the region and the level of rural revitalization in neighbouring areas. After the endogenous treatment and robustness test, the above conclusions remain valid.