Impact of high-standard basic farmland construction policies on agricultural eco-efficiency: Case of China

Abstract

The impact of high-standard basic farmland construction policies on agricultural eco-efficiency has been extensively considered. Using the Chinese provincial panel data from 2007–2017, we first measure the level of agricultural eco-efficiency in China by employing data envelopment analysis. Then, using difference-in-difference models, we analyze the impact of high-standard basic farmland construction policies on agricultural eco-efficiency and test whether there is heterogeneity of this impact. Finally, we further explore the specific channels through which the polices of high-standard basic farmland construction affect agricultural eco-efficiency. The empirical results indicate that 1) the implementation of high-standard farmland construction policies can significantly improve agricultural eco-efficiency, 2) the heterogeneity of the impact of high-standard farmland construction policies on agricultural eco-efficiency is manifested in both regional and efficiency aspects and 3) high-standard farmland construction policies promote agricultural eco-efficiency through the interaction between the new land scale and the replanting index.

Keywords

• high-standard basic farmland construction policies
• agricultural eco-efficiency
• difference-in-difference model
• data envelopment analysis