The impact of rural land transfer on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents and the implications: A perspective of land attachment

Globally, rural land transfer (RLT) is a common phenomenon with recurring characteristics. As the most populous country on Earth, China’s RLT affects the stability and sustainability of global food production. Studies to date examining RLT and subjective welfare changes among rural residents, and few studies have explored the perspective of middle-aged rural residents. This paper empirically explores the impact of land transfer out on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents using ordered probit regression models, based on the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. The findings reveal that RLT has a significant negative impact on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents. Group regression tests based on household income structure and security ability show that land attachment is an important mechanism by which land transfer out affects the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents. The higher the intensity of dependence on the land, the more significant the inhibitory effect of land transfer out on living satisfaction. However, RLT has no significant effect on the living satisfaction of female middle-aged rural residents. Additionally, expanding social networks and use of the Internet to access more sources of information are conducive to mitigating the negative effect of land transfer out on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents. Lastly, the negative effect of land transfer out on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents is significant in the eastern district or the region with lower willingness to migrate. Overall, our research can offer ideas for understanding the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents and exploring the improving path of the social network size and Internet information channel use on the living satisfaction of middle-aged rural residents under the rural revitalization background. Further, it can provide scientific reference for rural land use management, land policy decisions related to land transfer out initiatives, and ultimately contributing to a well-structured approach towards rural revitalization.