Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production
Summary. Digital village initiatives in China significantly reduce the urban-rural digital divide through multi-actor collaboration involving institutional reform, resource allocation, and adaptive governance. Analysis of 30 provinces from 2013–2021 identifies three effective pathways: service-space optimization, digital-infrastructure resilience, and digital-industrial co-evolution. Success requires balancing technology with institutional equity and spatial rebalancing, particularly in central and western regions.
Cite this article
Wang, W., Li, X., Cheng, M., Zhang, W., & Zhang, B.. (2025). Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066
Wang, Wei, et al. “Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production.” Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066.
Wang, Wei, Xiang Li, Manman Cheng, Weikun Zhang, and Bin Zhang. 2025. “Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production.” Environmental and Sustainability Indicators. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066.
@article{wang-2025-digital-rural-development-alleviation-urban,
title = {Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production},
author = {Wei Wang and Xiang Li and Manman Cheng and Weikun Zhang and Bin Zhang},
journal = {Environmental and Sustainability Indicators},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production AU - Wei Wang AU - Xiang Li AU - Manman Cheng AU - Weikun Zhang AU - Bin Zhang JO - Environmental and Sustainability Indicators PY - 2025 DO - 10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.indic.2025.101066
- Countries
- China
- Regions
- Asia
- Categories
- broadband-and-digital, regional-innovation-systems, policy
- Added
- 2026-04-28