The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey

In the context of the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy in China, returning rural migrant workers are bound to have a certain impact on the rural economy, and land is a very important factor in the agricultural economy. Using data from the 2018 China Labor Dynamic Survey (CLDS), th...

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Main Authors: Yuzhe Zhou, Zehui Wang, Wei Wang, Yulin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/869
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author Yuzhe Zhou
Zehui Wang
Wei Wang
Yulin Wang
author_facet Yuzhe Zhou
Zehui Wang
Wei Wang
Yulin Wang
author_sort Yuzhe Zhou
collection DOAJ
description In the context of the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy in China, returning rural migrant workers are bound to have a certain impact on the rural economy, and land is a very important factor in the agricultural economy. Using data from the 2018 China Labor Dynamic Survey (CLDS), this study examines how migrant workers’ return behaviors influence farmland transfer-in. To address potential endogeneity, the analysis employs the Probit model, instrumental variable methods, and propensity score matching. The findings reveal that returning migrant workers significantly promote farmland transfer-in. Households with returning migrant workers exhibit stronger demands for land transfer-in and tend to operate farmland on a larger scale. Furthermore, returning migrant workers drive farmland expansion through mechanization labor substitution, enhanced access to agricultural loans, and reduced non-farm participation. Additionally, returning migrant workers who are highly educated and younger play a particularly influential role, underscoring the heterogeneous impacts across different migrant groups. This study provides empirical evidence for rural revitalization policies in China by systematically analyzing the effect of returning migrant workers in promoting land transfer-in and the path of influence on farmland scale.
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spelling doaj-art-ecb2578376e14d72af722a5d841ccfc32025-08-20T03:13:55ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-04-0114486910.3390/land14040869The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic SurveyYuzhe Zhou0Zehui Wang1Wei Wang2Yulin Wang3College of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Management, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaIn the context of the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy in China, returning rural migrant workers are bound to have a certain impact on the rural economy, and land is a very important factor in the agricultural economy. Using data from the 2018 China Labor Dynamic Survey (CLDS), this study examines how migrant workers’ return behaviors influence farmland transfer-in. To address potential endogeneity, the analysis employs the Probit model, instrumental variable methods, and propensity score matching. The findings reveal that returning migrant workers significantly promote farmland transfer-in. Households with returning migrant workers exhibit stronger demands for land transfer-in and tend to operate farmland on a larger scale. Furthermore, returning migrant workers drive farmland expansion through mechanization labor substitution, enhanced access to agricultural loans, and reduced non-farm participation. Additionally, returning migrant workers who are highly educated and younger play a particularly influential role, underscoring the heterogeneous impacts across different migrant groups. This study provides empirical evidence for rural revitalization policies in China by systematically analyzing the effect of returning migrant workers in promoting land transfer-in and the path of influence on farmland scale.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/869returning migrant workersfarmland transfer-inrural revitalizationscale agricultural land
spellingShingle Yuzhe Zhou
Zehui Wang
Wei Wang
Yulin Wang
The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
Land
returning migrant workers
farmland transfer-in
rural revitalization
scale agricultural land
title The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
title_full The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
title_fullStr The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
title_short The Impact of Migrant Workers’ Return Behaviors on Land Transfer-in: Evidence from the China Labor Dynamic Survey
title_sort impact of migrant workers return behaviors on land transfer in evidence from the china labor dynamic survey
topic returning migrant workers
farmland transfer-in
rural revitalization
scale agricultural land
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/869
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