Abstract
Facing the serious challenges of lagging rural economy and aging population, the Chinese government has formulated a Rural Revitalization Strategy, aimed at promoting comprehensive development in rural areas. Within this strategy, industrial prosperity is regarded as a crucial cornerstone. Various regions actively implement industry-oriented rural planning centered on "leading industries," leveraging their own resource advantages to achieve rapid economic growth in rural areas. The implementation of rural revitalization planning has facilitated improvements in the material environment and adjustments in the social structure of villages. These changes directly affect the social relationships and participation levels of local elderly residents, subsequently influencing their social integration and well-being.This study reviews the Rural Revitalization Strategy and the classification of leading industry planning through literature, constructing relevant dimensions of social integration for elderly residents in rural China. Subsequently, an empirical study is conducted through surveys of elderly individuals in representative villages along the eastern coastal areas of Fujian province, which have implemented different leading industry plans. By collecting primary data on socio-economic backgrounds and social integration scales, and combining mobile signaling data for GIS heatmap analysis, the study assesses the status, differences, and mechanisms affecting social integration among rural elderly residents under different industry-oriented planning contexts, ultimately proposing targeted policy recommendations.
The results indicate that the overall level of social integration among rural elderly populations remains relatively low, particularly in economic and social participation dimensions. The implementation of industry-oriented rural revitalization planning has partially enhanced the social integration of local elderly populations but has also introduced certain negative impacts. In the future, rural development must adopt a multi-dimensional approach that integrates industry planning, living environment improvement, social interaction, and policy guidance to more effectively promote the social integration of the elderly.
| Date of Award | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Supervisor | Tzu-Yuan Chao (Supervisor) |