Does higher vocational education matter for rural revitalization? Evidence from China

The association between higher vocational education and rural revitalization is an essential economic and social issue, especially in a country with a large population and a developing education system like China. This study uses panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2007 to 2020 to explore the association between higher vocational education and rural revitalization. The empirical results show that, at the national level, both the scale and the quality of higher vocational education significantly promote rural revitalization; the effects of higher vocational education on rural revitalization vary by region: in the eastern and central regions, the scale of higher vocational education significantly promotes rural revitalization, while in the western regions, the quality of higher vocational education significantly promotes rural revitalization; the scale of higher vocational education has a positive spatial spillover effect on rural revitalization, while the quality of higher vocational education only has a significant positive effect on the local level of rural revitalization. Furthermore, the effects of higher vocational education on rural revitalization exhibit a threshold effect based on the economic development level and the urban-rural income gap. This study reveals relationships between higher vocational education and rural revitalization, providing references for policymakers and investors.