China's traditional rural communities rely on technology diffusion to achieve transformation and development

Abstract

Rural revitalization is currently a focus of development in China, with rural communities industrialization being an important means of promoting economic development in agricultural areas. The key to promote the transformation of rural communities is the introduction and dissemination of production technology. The study taked Xuchang Village, a rural community, as the case study area. This study conducted in-depth interviews with local government personnel and industry authorities, and conducted a questionnaire survey among 36 folk music instrument shop owners and 151 shop employees. The study aimed to analyze the technological diffusion process, characteristics, and mechanism of transforming ordinary communities into specialized communities. The study showed that: the technology diffusion exhibited a top-down, center-periphery structure, with an irreversible transmission direction and small-scale group diffusion. Notably, there were significant differences in technology diffusion corridors during different periods. In the initial stage, business ties were the main corridors for technology diffusion. In the middle stage, blood ties were the main corridors of technology diffusion. In the late stage, geographical ties were the main corridors of technology diffusion. Such experiences have great reference value for promoting economic development in rural areas in China and other developing countries.