Research on the Impact of Rural Road Demonstration and Creation Policies on Improving People’s Living Standards

In recent years, China has persistently rolled out initiatives to build and showcase rural road networks. This study aimed to examine the effect of the rural road demonstration and creation policy on people’s living standards. Using SPSSPRO software and the difference-in-differences (DID) method, we established an effectiveness evaluation model. We analyzed Engel coefficient data covering the period from 2012 to 2022, gathered from 10 cities – some participating in the demonstration and some not. The findings suggest that the policy on rural road development yields benefits by lowering the Engel coefficient in rural areas, thereby enhancing farmers’ quality of life. The study’s conclusions provide significant insights for furthering the rural road demonstration and construction initiative, as well as for promoting the high-quality progression of rural road networks.