The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Farm Households in China

Observing the dramatic development and distribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in China, it is increasingly recognized that these technologies are an indispensable force of rural development. The study introduces conceptual framework for measuring the value of ICT use and presents a comprehensive understanding of the impact of ICTs on rural development and recommends a policy for the implementation of ICTs in rural China. The study provides a quantitative analysis of determinants of telephone subscription, and the relationship between telephone adoption and income at household level, based on the data of a large farm household survey. The analysis finds a positive relationship between the adoption of the telephone and annual income of farm households, but the link is not strong in the short run.