Research on the Role Mechanism and Path of Digital Technology Empowering Farmers’ Common Prosperity

Achieving common prosperity for farmers represent a key objective of rural revitalization and plays a crucial role in narrowing the urban–rural divide and advancing high-quality agricultural development. As a catalyst of modern development, digital technology fosters agricultural and rural progress, contributing significantly to the realization of farmers’ common prosperity. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2012 to 2023, this study constructs econometric models to examine the direct, indirect, and nonlinear effects of digital technology on farmers’ common prosperity. Heterogeneity is also analyzed, endogeneity is addressed, and robustness tests are conducted. The results indicate that digital technology significantly enhances farmers’ common prosperity by 1%. This effect remains robust and displays both regional and dimensional heterogeneity. Additionally, digital technology indirectly fosters common prosperity by increasing farmers’ income and decreasing the urban–rural income gap, exhibiting a double-threshold nonlinear relationship. Policy recommendations include enhancing digital technology support, improving farmers’ digital literacy, and expanding income channels.