How does reverse entrepreneurship facilitate community transformation in rural China? Evidence from the Yellow River

Wu, Bin; Zhang, Liyan; Noke, Hannah; Bhatt, Punita

Abstract

In the context of urbanisation and rural decline in the world, reverse entrepreneurship plays a vital role in facilitating the reverse flow of various resources for rural revitalisation. However, little is known about the process of community transformation in the Global South, referring to community participation and reconstruction of social relations, both internally and externally, for community development. This paper attempts to fill this gap by focusing on how reverse (return and/or immigration from urban areas) entrepreneurs work with the host community and stakeholders (government, investors, companies and other supporters) to develop a shared vision and collective identity We pay special attention to how reverse entrepreneurs identify critical resources and innovation opportunities for community participation and facilitate effective communication and cooperation between community and stakeholders to develop common interests and long term cooperation. Based upon the analysis of 12 micronarratives of grassroots innovators collected along the Yellow-River of China, this paper contributes to rural revitalisation debates by presenting a conceptual model, "resource-vision-identity" to illustrate the process of community transformation facilitated by reverse entrepreneurship. This paper extends our knowledge of reverse entrepreneurship by highlighting the importance of shared vision and collective identity as key outcomes of community transformation. Learning the lessons from rural revitalisation practices in China and other countries, the concept of community transformation emphasises the participation and contribution from smallholder farmers to co-development of vision and identity. Directions for further research and policy implications are provided.

Citation

Wu, B., Zhang, L., Noke, H., & Bhatt, P. (2024). How does reverse entrepreneurship facilitate community transformation in rural China? Evidence from the Yellow River. Journal of Rural Studies, 106, Article 103204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103204

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 2, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-02
• Deposit Date: Jan 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 3, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Rural Studies
• Print ISSN: 0743-0167
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-1392
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 106
• Article Number: 103204
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103204
• Keywords: Rural revitalisation; community transformation; reverse entrepreneurship; shared vision and collective identity; Yellow River of China
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/30112876
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0743016724000081?via%3Dihub