What the study found
The study found that China’s agricultural economic resilience rose steadily over time and showed clear regional differences. It also found that the pilot hometown-return entrepreneurship policy had a significantly positive association with agricultural economic resilience.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings help explain how much the hometown-return entrepreneurship policy improves agricultural economic resilience and through what mechanisms. They also suggest that regions should strengthen policy support and attract returning farmers according to local conditions to support high-quality agricultural economic development.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed panel data from 2,005 counties in China from 2012 to 2022. They used a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model, a statistical method for comparing changes over time between affected and unaffected groups, together with a mediating effect approach to examine both the policy effect and its pathways.
What worked and what didn't
The policy was reported to have a significantly positive effect on agricultural economic resilience. The effect was stronger in western China and weaker in eastern China. Mechanism analysis suggested that increasing farmers’ income and advancing the rationalization of the industrial structure were the main transmission channels.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not describe limitations in detail beyond the study’s focus on China and the 2012–2022 county panel. The results are presented for the pilot hometown-return entrepreneurship policy and may not be directly generalized beyond the studied setting.
Key points
- Agricultural economic resilience showed a steady upward trend in the study period.
- The policy had a significantly positive association with agricultural economic resilience.
- The effect was more pronounced in western China and less substantial in eastern China.
- Higher farmer income and industrial structure rationalization were identified as key channels.
- The study used 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, Northwest Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-30
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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