The influence of new urbanization on the rural economic development: A case study of Xinjiang

Studying how new urbanization affects rural economic development is of great theoretical and practical significance for implementing the strategy of rural revitalization and successfully building a well-off society. Based on a panel data from 15 prefectures in Xinjiang from 2004 to 2017, this paper constructed an evaluation index system of new urbanization and rural economic development, analyzed the effect of new urbanization on rural economic development and explored its internal mechanism. Results show that: from 2004 to 2017, the level of new urbanization and rural economic development in Xinjiang showed an upward trend, the comprehensive score of the new urbanization rose from 0.341 to 0.610, and the comprehensive score of rural economic development rose from 0.343 to 0.516. However, there were obvious regional differences: the level of rural economic development and new urbanization in the northern Xinjiang region was better than that of the southern Xinjiang region, and the gap between the north and south was widening. In general, new urbanization in Xinjiang has a significant effect on rural economic development, and this effect in northern Xinjiang is stronger than that of the southern Xinjiang. Urbanization in Xinjiang mainly promotes rural economic development by promoting the transfer of agricultural labor force, agricultural technological progress and increasing the intensive utilization of agricultural land. Based on the above results, this paper provides some suggestions: to establish a systematic plan, to insist on the two strategic synergies drive, and to build an institutional mechanism for the free movement of urban and rural elements.