How can digital governance promote rural households’ living environment improvement behavior? Empirical evidence from rural China

Digital governance serves as a crucial force in advancing the modernization of rural governance, with digital governance platforms forming its foundation. Studying the impact on rural households' living environment improvement behavior is of great significance. However, the influence of digital village construction on rural households' living environment improvement behavior remains controversial, and empirical evidence on the impact of digital governance platforms on rural households' living environment improvement behavior is still limited. Based on the Social-Ecological System (SES) framework, this study utilizes 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey data to empirically analyze the impact effects, mechanisms, and heterogeneity of digital governance platforms on rural households' living environment improvement behavior. The study found that digital governance platforms promote rural households' living environment improvement behavior, and this result remains robust after a series of robustness tests. Social capital (social networks, trust, and social norms) and village cadres' leadership play a partial mediating role in this effect. The promotional effect of digital governance platforms on rural households’ living environment improvement behavior is stronger in villages with supporting infrastructure and in households with clear property rights, but is less affected by geographical conditions. These findings provide theoretical guidance and decision-making references for promoting the improvement of rural living environments.