A Study on the Impact and Mechanisms of Rural E-Commerce Development on Rural Industrial Integration

Rural industrial integration in China remains at a relatively low level and is characterized by substantial regional disparities. Exploring effective pathways to enhance rural industrial integration has therefore become an important research issue. This study investigates the impact and mechanisms of rural e-commerce on rural industrial integration using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces during 2012–2023 and a two-way fixed-effects model. The results reveal that (1) there is a significant positive correlation between the development of rural e-commerce and rural industrial integration; (2) the level of rural entrepreneurial activity may serve as an important channel for rural industrial integration; (3) rural e-commerce promotes rural industrial integration through both direct effects and indirect effects by stimulating rural entrepreneurial activity; and (4) digital inclusive finance positively moderates the relationship between rural e-commerce and rural industrial integration. Based on these findings, this study suggests improving the rural e-commerce development environment, strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting rural entrepreneurship, and enhancing the synergy between digital inclusive finance and rural e-commerce. Furthermore, differentiated regional strategies should be implemented to facilitate the high-quality development of rural industrial integration.