High-Quality Growth in Rural China: Systems-Based Analysis of Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Research has often overlooked the role of digital innovation in driving social transformation, especially in underserved rural areas, but the integration of digital technology is promoting rural high-quality development through the establishment of digital entrepreneurial ecosystems. Approaching from a complex systems perspective, this study contends that these ecosystems navigate multiple routes to enhance total factor productivity (TFP) in rural settings. Performing a configurational analysis of a sample of 60 demonstration counties for rural revitalization in China, this study identifies three primary pathways yielding high TFP: an investment-led model under government stewardship, a collaborative model steered by both government and social capital, and a talent-centric model governed by digital market forces. Conversely, this study also pinpoints a pathway that does not yield high TFP. Theoretical and practical insights are offered for researchers and practitioners exploring digital innovation and its implications for rural entrepreneurial ecosystems.