The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: The Mediating Role of Rural E-commerce
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The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: The Mediating Role of Rural E-commerce

Qinyang Zheng 1*
1 Northwest A&F University
*Corresponding author: zhengqinyang@nwafu.edu.cn
Published on 24 July 2025
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AEMPS Vol.206
ISSN (Print): 2754-1177
ISSN (Online): 2754-1169
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-295-9
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-296-6
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Abstract

This study employs panel data from 117 Chinese cities (2011–2022) to investigate the impact of digital inclusive finance (DIF) on agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP) and the mediating role of rural e-commerce. Results show that DIF significantly enhances AGTFP by alleviating financing constraints, optimizing resource allocation, and promoting green technology adoption, with more pronounced effects in non-grain-producing regions and areas with scarce financial resources. Rural e-commerce, represented by the expansion of Taobao villages, serves as a key mediating pathway, facilitating the marketization of green agricultural products and digitalization of supply chains. Regional disparities are evident: eastern coastal regions achieve an annual AGTFP growth of 8.5% through technology-intensive models, while northeastern regions lag due to traditional factor lock-in effects. The study provides policy insights for advancing agricultural low-carbon transition by optimizing digital financial policies, including targeted DIF penetration, rural e-commerce infrastructure upgrading, and region-specific technology diffusion strategies.

Keywords:

Digital Inclusive Finance, Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity, Rural E-commerce

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Zheng,Q. (2025). The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: The Mediating Role of Rural E-commerce. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,206,23-33.

References

[1]. "Advancing Agricultural Modernization and Building a Strong Agricultural Country - A Review of Implementing the Spirit of the National Two Sessions (IV)". Rolling News, Chinese Government Network. Accessed: Feb. 21, 2025.

[2]. China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. China Digital Economy Development Report (2022) [EB/OL]. [Accessed: Feb. 21, 2025].

[3]. Liu, C. K., Cheng, Z. T., & Wei, J. Q. (2024). Digital inclusive finance and agricultural green development under the background of rural revitalization. Qinghai Social Sciences, No. 3, 117–129. doi: 10.14154/j.cnki.qss.2024.03.020

[4]. Du, J. J., Zhang, Y. D., Liu, B. M., & Dong, R. H. (2023). The impact of digital villages on agricultural green total factor productivity and its mechanism. China Population, Resources and Environment, Vol. 33, No. 2, 165–175.

[5]. Li, Y. X., & Xiang, S. (2024, October). Research on the impact of digital technology development on the green total factor productivity of grain. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 1–10.

[6]. Zhang, J. C., & Wang, J. M. (2024). Digital inclusive finance, low - carbon agricultural production, and green total factor productivity. Journal of Harbin University of Commerce (Social Science Edition), No. 5, 16–25.

[7]. Tian, Y. (2017). Favorable conditions for the integration of urban and rural commercial circulation in China and its development countermeasures. Reform & Strategy, Vol. 33, No. 7, 156–158. doi: 10.16331/j.cnki.issn1002 - 736x.2017.07.042

[8]. Wen, Z. L., & Ye, B. J. (2014). Analysis of mediating effects: Development of methods and models. Advances in Psychological Science, Vol. 22, No. 5, 731–745.

[9]. Liu, Z. K., & Xin, L. (2018). The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the green total factor productivity of key Chinese provinces along the route. China Population, Resources and Environment, Vol. 28, No. 12, 87–97.

[10]. Guo, F., Wang, J. Y., Wang, F., Kong, T., Zhang, X., & Cheng, Z. Y. (2020). Measuring the development of digital inclusive finance in China: Index compilation and spatial characteristics. China Economic Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1401–1418. doi: 10.13821/j.cnki.ceq.2020.03.12

[11]. Zhou, Y. H., Qiu, Z. X., Jiang, S. S., & Liu, M. (2024). Digital economy development and rural common prosperity: A collaborative perspective of e - commerce and digital finance. Economic Research Journal, Vol. 59, No. 7, 54–71.

[12]. An, H. X. (2024). Impact mechanism and spatial spillover effect of digital inclusive finance on agricultural green total factor productivity. Jiangsu Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 52, No. 18, 288–296. doi: 10.15889/j.issn.1002 - 1302.2024.18.036

[13]. Gong, S. Y., Wang, B., & Yu, Z. G. (2023). Business environment, Internet - based government services, and agricultural total factor productivity. Statistics & Decision, Vol. 39, No. 8, 147–152. doi: 10.13546/j.cnki.tjyjc.2023.08.026

[14]. Liu, H. Y., Wang, L. X., & Wang, X. F. (2024). Cross - border e - commerce and the total factor productivity of export enterprises. World Economy Study, No. 7, 43–57, 134–135. doi: 10.13516/j.cnki.wes.2024.07.009

[15]. Cong, H. B., Huang, P., Zou, D. L., & Zhu, X. Z. (2024). Impact of rural e - commerce in the Yangtze River Delta counties on farmers' income increase from the perspectives of entrepreneurship and employment. Economic Geography, Vol. 44, No. 12, 53–61. doi: 10.15957/j.cnki.jjdl.2024.12.006

[16]. Tang, L., Tang, Y. H., & Yang, Q. J. (2024). Rural e - commerce, digital inclusive finance, and urban - rural common prosperity. Comparative Economic and Social Systems, No. 4, 95–110.

[17]. Deng, J. Q., & Gu, Y. (2024, December). Does digital inclusive finance promote rural revitalization in county - level areas? Western Forum, 1–15.

[18]. Hao, L., & Liu, J. B. (2022). The impact of digital inclusive finance on income inequality - Testing the mediating effect based on the digital divide. Journal of Beijing Vocational College of Economics and Management, Vol. 37, No. 3, 71–80.

References

[1]. "Advancing Agricultural Modernization and Building a Strong Agricultural Country - A Review of Implementing the Spirit of the National Two Sessions (IV)". Rolling News, Chinese Government Network. Accessed: Feb. 21, 2025.

[2]. China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. China Digital Economy Development Report (2022) [EB/OL]. [Accessed: Feb. 21, 2025].

[3]. Liu, C. K., Cheng, Z. T., & Wei, J. Q. (2024). Digital inclusive finance and agricultural green development under the background of rural revitalization. Qinghai Social Sciences, No. 3, 117–129. doi: 10.14154/j.cnki.qss.2024.03.020

[4]. Du, J. J., Zhang, Y. D., Liu, B. M., & Dong, R. H. (2023). The impact of digital villages on agricultural green total factor productivity and its mechanism. China Population, Resources and Environment, Vol. 33, No. 2, 165–175.

[5]. Li, Y. X., & Xiang, S. (2024, October). Research on the impact of digital technology development on the green total factor productivity of grain. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 1–10.

[6]. Zhang, J. C., & Wang, J. M. (2024). Digital inclusive finance, low - carbon agricultural production, and green total factor productivity. Journal of Harbin University of Commerce (Social Science Edition), No. 5, 16–25.

[7]. Tian, Y. (2017). Favorable conditions for the integration of urban and rural commercial circulation in China and its development countermeasures. Reform & Strategy, Vol. 33, No. 7, 156–158. doi: 10.16331/j.cnki.issn1002 - 736x.2017.07.042

[8]. Wen, Z. L., & Ye, B. J. (2014). Analysis of mediating effects: Development of methods and models. Advances in Psychological Science, Vol. 22, No. 5, 731–745.

[9]. Liu, Z. K., & Xin, L. (2018). The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the green total factor productivity of key Chinese provinces along the route. China Population, Resources and Environment, Vol. 28, No. 12, 87–97.

[10]. Guo, F., Wang, J. Y., Wang, F., Kong, T., Zhang, X., & Cheng, Z. Y. (2020). Measuring the development of digital inclusive finance in China: Index compilation and spatial characteristics. China Economic Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1401–1418. doi: 10.13821/j.cnki.ceq.2020.03.12

[11]. Zhou, Y. H., Qiu, Z. X., Jiang, S. S., & Liu, M. (2024). Digital economy development and rural common prosperity: A collaborative perspective of e - commerce and digital finance. Economic Research Journal, Vol. 59, No. 7, 54–71.

[12]. An, H. X. (2024). Impact mechanism and spatial spillover effect of digital inclusive finance on agricultural green total factor productivity. Jiangsu Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 52, No. 18, 288–296. doi: 10.15889/j.issn.1002 - 1302.2024.18.036

[13]. Gong, S. Y., Wang, B., & Yu, Z. G. (2023). Business environment, Internet - based government services, and agricultural total factor productivity. Statistics & Decision, Vol. 39, No. 8, 147–152. doi: 10.13546/j.cnki.tjyjc.2023.08.026

[14]. Liu, H. Y., Wang, L. X., & Wang, X. F. (2024). Cross - border e - commerce and the total factor productivity of export enterprises. World Economy Study, No. 7, 43–57, 134–135. doi: 10.13516/j.cnki.wes.2024.07.009

[15]. Cong, H. B., Huang, P., Zou, D. L., & Zhu, X. Z. (2024). Impact of rural e - commerce in the Yangtze River Delta counties on farmers' income increase from the perspectives of entrepreneurship and employment. Economic Geography, Vol. 44, No. 12, 53–61. doi: 10.15957/j.cnki.jjdl.2024.12.006

[16]. Tang, L., Tang, Y. H., & Yang, Q. J. (2024). Rural e - commerce, digital inclusive finance, and urban - rural common prosperity. Comparative Economic and Social Systems, No. 4, 95–110.

[17]. Deng, J. Q., & Gu, Y. (2024, December). Does digital inclusive finance promote rural revitalization in county - level areas? Western Forum, 1–15.

[18]. Hao, L., & Liu, J. B. (2022). The impact of digital inclusive finance on income inequality - Testing the mediating effect based on the digital divide. Journal of Beijing Vocational College of Economics and Management, Vol. 37, No. 3, 71–80.

Cite this article

Zheng,Q. (2025). The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity: The Mediating Role of Rural E-commerce. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,206,23-33.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Digital Transformation in Global Human Resource Management

ISBN: 978-1-80590-295-9(Print) / 978-1-80590-296-6(Online)
Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, An Nguyen
Conference website: https://www.icemgd.org/committee.html
Conference date: 26 September 2025
Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences
Volume number: Vol.206
ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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