Do Internet Skills Increase Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Environmental Governance? Evidence from Rural China

Abstract

Environmental pollution is threatening the sustainable development of rural areas. Increasing farmers’ willingness to participate in environmental governance (FWPEG) can effectively reduce this threat. Fortunately, the internet can speed up the process. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent the mastery of internet skills will increase FWPEG. This study uses data from 3503 farmers in 30 provinces in mainland China. It uses the TE and IVQTE models to correct selection bias and quantitatively assess the impact of mastery of internet skills on FWPEG. The results show: (1) mastering internet skills can significantly increase FWPEG, and after correcting the endogenous deviation, the marginal benefit of farmers mastering internet skills is 0.124; (2) in the 34–81% quantile range, internet skills show a declining development trend in FWPEG, which is in line with “the law of diminishing marginal utility”, and mastery of the impact of internet skills on FWPEG has “leaping” (33% → 34%)” and “sagging (81% → 82%)” characteristics; (3) compared to that of the east, internet skills in central and western regions have a more significant role in promoting FWPEG. In general, internet skills can effectively increase FWPEG, and the impact will be more pronounced in underdeveloped areas. The influence of internet skills on FWPEG will gradually weaken with the increase of FWPEG. The results of this research help to coordinate the relationship between government environmental governance and rural environmental autonomy and provide some new ideas for realizing global rural revitalization.

Keywords

• internet skills
• FWPEG
• treatment effect model
• rural China