A Study on the Relationship Between Rural E-Commerce Development and Farmers’ Income Growth

The development of rural e-commerce is conducive to expanding channels for increasing farmers’ income. This paper analyzes the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth in 31 provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions) across China. First, based on a review of relevant literature, an index system for rural e-commerce development was constructed, and the entropy weight method was used to measure the comprehensive index of national rural e-commerce development. Next, a panel data regression model was established to analyze the relationship between rural e-commerce development and farmers’ income growth, followed by regional heterogeneity analysis and robustness tests. The analysis found that during the study period, China’s rural e-commerce development level increased year by year, but there were regional differences; the development of rural e-commerce in China has a significant positive impact on farmers’ income growth, but the degree of impact varies across different regions. Finally, suggestions are put forward to promote the further development of rural e-commerce in China.