Impact of Aging Agricultural Labor Force on Mulch Film Recycling Behavior: Evidence from Rural China

Honghong Yang, Hua Li (), Huimin Guo, Qi Li and Liting Fang
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Honghong Yang: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Hua Li: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Huimin Guo: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Qi Li: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
Liting Fang: Nanning Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Nanning 530028, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: Mulch film recycling is essential for reducing soil pollution, ensuring sustainable land use, and promoting green agricultural development. This study examines the impact of agricultural labor age on mulch film recycling behavior, utilizing survey data from 739 households in Xinjiang. The relationship between labor age and recycling behavior follows an inverted U-shape, with participation initially increasing and then decreasing as age advances. We explore the mediating roles of human capital and ecological cognition in this relationship. Both human capital and ecological cognition display inverted U-shaped patterns with age, which in turn influence recycling behavior. Furthermore, social norms were found to positively moderate the relationship between labor age and ecological cognition, while no significant moderating effect was observed between age and human capital. These findings suggest that enhancing human capital and ecological awareness, coupled with the reinforcement of social norms, can facilitate mulch film recycling. The study underscores the importance of developing targeted policies to support various age groups in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: aging labor force; plastic film recycling behavior; human capital; ecological cognition; social norms; inverted U-shape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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