Examining the Impact of Digital Divide on Rural Multidimensional Poverty: Evidence From China

Xiaohong Pu, Chunjie Huang, Sichang He · 2026 · Review of Development Economics

Summary. China's rural households face persistent multidimensional poverty despite income poverty reduction, worsened by digital inequality. Using household survey data from 2016–2018, the study finds that the digital divide significantly increases rural multidimensional poverty risk, with effects varying by internet use, access mode, region, and household head age. The digital divide constrains non-agricultural employment, weakens social networks, and reduces credit access—three key pathways linking digital exclusion to poverty.

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@article{pu-2026-examining-impact-digital-divide-rural,
  title   = {Examining the Impact of Digital Divide on Rural Multidimensional Poverty: Evidence From China},
  author  = {Xiaohong Pu and Chunjie Huang and Sichang He},
  journal = {Review of Development Economics},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1111/rode.70118},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.70118}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Examining the Impact of Digital Divide on Rural Multidimensional Poverty: Evidence From China
AU  - Xiaohong Pu
AU  - Chunjie Huang
AU  - Sichang He
JO  - Review of Development Economics
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.1111/rode.70118
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.70118
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1111/rode.70118

Countries

China

Regions

Asia

Categories

broadband-and-digital, rural-data-and-definitions, policy, general-innovation

Added

2026-04-29