E-Commerce as a Driver of Rural Transformation: Insights from a Systematic Review

This study presents a systematic review of 95 studies examining how E-commerce development fosters rural transformation. We focus on both household-level participation and macro-level policy interventions, analyzing the impacts of E-commerce development across three domains: household livelihoods, agricultural production, and rural development. Overall, the literature documents predominantly positive impacts of E-commerce development. At the household level, it raises income, reduces income inequality, and improves consumption and subjective well-being. In agricultural production, E-commerce development promotes the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and enhances both farm and market performance. From the rural development perspective, it stimulates human capital accumulation, improves access to credit and financial services, and contributes to economic development and environmental sustainability. The evidence is heavily concentrated in China. However, the insights are relevant for other developing regions. Despite valuable insights from existing studies, several key gaps remain. The literature lacks cross-country comparability; it focuses primarily on farmers’ online sales while neglecting other stakeholders; and it provides limited evidence on the mechanisms and cost–benefit implications of E-commerce development. Addressing these gaps offers essential directions for future research.