The Impact of Livelihood Capital on Subjective Well-Being of New Professional Farmers: Evidence from China

Abstract

Enhancing the subjective well-being of new professional farmers is a crucial issue in China’s rural revitalization for modernization. This study was based on sample survey data collected in August 2020 by the Industrial Development Research Group at Xi’an Jiaotong University in the southern part of Shaanxi Province, China. It focused on exploring the influence of livelihood capital and income fairness on the subjective well-being of new professional farmers. The findings revealed the following: (1) Livelihood capital has a significant positive impact on subjective well-being among new professional farmers. The greater the accumulation of livelihood capital, the stronger their subjective well-being. (2) Income fairness significantly contributes to subjective well-being among new professional farmers. However, when comparing different social groups, variations exist in their subjective well-being. (3) Income fairness serves as a mediating factor between livelihood capital and subjective well-being. In other words, the accumulation of livelihood capital among new professional farmers affects their perception of income fairness, which subsequently influences their subjective well-being. These results have important implications for enhancing the well-being of new professional farmers, promoting the modernization of Chinese agriculture, and advancing the implementation of rural revitalization strategies.

Transforming Traditional Farmers into Professionals: An Introduction to Human Resource Management in Rural

“…They are now increasingly allocating resources to more intensive and quality training programs. The main objective of this move is to improve employees' skills and competencies, which in turn can contribute to increased productivity and, of course, revenue (Lembong et al, 2021;Niu et al, 2023;Umari & Frinaldi, 2022). Such initiatives signal a shift in corporate priorities, where they focus not only on the short-term profit aspect but also on long-term investments in human capital that will provide sustainable benefits for the company as well as for the individuals involved.…”

“…Modern farmers who are dedicated to making agriculture their main career have a certain expertise in the sector and rely on agriculture as their main source of income (Ngongo et al, 2022;Niu et al, 2023;Zhou et al, 2023). They can be classified into three broad groups: First, professional farmers who specialize in aspects of agricultural production and management.…”

“…The fundamental differences between modern professional farmers and traditional farmers can be seen through four main aspects, which are outlined in more detail in Table 1. These aspects include the methods and technologies used, management approach, level of specialization, and engagement in sustainable agricultural innovations and practices (Adam et al, 2022;Niu et al, 2023;Zhang et al, 2021). These differences signify a significant evolution in agricultural practices, shifting from traditional methods towards a more structured, science-based and sustainabilityoriented approach.…”

Does Subjective Well-Being Improve Self-Rated Health from Undergraduate Studies to Three Years after Graduation in China?

“…Undergraduate students are one of the key objects that need to pay attention to their subjective well-being. In addition, the subjective well-being of college students is also a topic widely discussed in empirical research, and many scholars discussed subjective well-being through various ways of measurement, including one-item indicators [20,21] and multi-item indicators [22]. According to a survey of American college students, 55.9% of the students had felt helpless, 65.6% had felt lonely, and 70.8% had felt sad in the past year [4].…”