How does farmers' endogenous dynamic shape up in China's rural residential land system reform: Insights from the social-ecological system framework

Abstract

Farmers' endogenous dynamic help advance rural land system reform. As a key aspect of China's rural land system reform, rural residential land system reform (RRLSR) is an important part of rural revitalization. Considering the collective ownership of rural residential land and the need for farmer participation in RRLSR, we introduce collective action theory to construct a Social-Ecological System (SES) framework in the context of RRLSR. Data from 766 surveys conducted in Jiangxi Province indicate that rural collective action contributes to RRLSR and stimulates endogenous dynamic, reflecting a logical chain of “rural collective action–reform community–farmers’ endogenous dynamic”. There are four pathways that promote farmers' endogenous dynamic, achieving a shift in attitude from “want me to reform” to “I want to reform”: (1) collective cohesion achieved through self-government organizations, (2) interest aggregation in farmers' sense of reform accessibility, (3) action synergy in farmers' subjectivity, and (4) institutional safeguards for the integration of the “three rules” (the rule of law, ethics, and self-government). Our findings highlight the need to (1) adhere to a government-guided, collective-led governance structure with farmers comprising the main body. (2) Strike a balance between individual and collective interests. (3) Respect farmers' willingness to participate to stimulate their sense of RRLSR ownership. (4) Build a pluralistic institutional system that integrates formal and informal rules. Beyond its implications for China, this study can serve as a reference for rural land system reform in other developing countries.