A Study on the Synergistic Relationship and Driving Mechanism of Rural Roads and Rural Economy in China Based on a Spatio-Temporal Perspective

The study builds an indicator system for the comprehensive development of rural roads and rural economy in China, establishes a coupling and coordination model and a spatial measurement model for rural roads and rural economic development in the spatial and temporal dimensions, and explores the fitness relationship and spatial driving mechanism between the two. The study found the following: (1) China’s rural transport has a strong driving effect on rural economy, showing significant coupling and spatial heterogeneity, the degree of coordination of the east > central > western; (2) indicators such as the mileage of rural roads, the proportion of Class III and above highways, and the proportion of village roads have a positive driving effect on the development of the rural economy; and (3) the indicators on the proportion of county roads of class III and above and the rate of access to formed villages have a positive spillover effect, which is conducive to promoting the development of regional agglomeration of the rural economy.