Digital Finance Development and Rural‐to‐Urban Migration in China

Chao Zhou, Xiaoxue Wang, Shaodan Wu, Mingzhong Luo · 2026 · Population Space and Place

Summary. Digital finance development in China significantly reduces rural-to-urban migration by expanding entrepreneurial opportunities and local business growth. The coverage scope of digital finance matters most. The effect works through three mechanisms: increased rural entrepreneurship, expansion of small and medium enterprises, and industrial diversification. The impact is strongest for less-educated workers, in regions with weak traditional banking, and areas with strong Confucian cultural values.

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@article{zhou-2026-digital-finance-development-rural-urban,
  title   = {Digital Finance Development and Rural‐to‐Urban Migration in China},
  author  = {Chao Zhou and Xiaoxue Wang and Shaodan Wu and Mingzhong Luo},
  journal = {Population Space and Place},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1002/psp.70290},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.70290}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Digital Finance Development and Rural‐to‐Urban Migration in China
AU  - Chao Zhou
AU  - Xiaoxue Wang
AU  - Shaodan Wu
AU  - Mingzhong Luo
JO  - Population Space and Place
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.1002/psp.70290
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.70290
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1002/psp.70290

Countries

China

Regions

Asia

Categories

broadband-and-digital, entrepreneurship, regional-innovation-systems, general-innovation

Added

2026-06-01