Regional agricultural cooperatives and subjective wellbeing of rural households in China

In: Regional science policy and practice: RSPP, Band 14, S. 138-159

Abstract

AbstractThis study conducted an empirical analysis of survey data collected from 466 rural households from Shandong Province, China, to determine how the subjective wellbeing of rural households is related to their membership in agricultural cooperatives, and the mediating effects of income and social capital. The results revealed that cooperative membership improved rural households' subjective wellbeing. Furthermore, income and social capital both served as partial mediators between cooperative membership and subjective well‐being. Therefore, to improve subjective wellbeing, the role of cooperatives in expanding rural public space should be brought into full play. Moreover, multiple regional development models of cooperatives should be encouraged to increase household income and promote rural regional economic growth.