How Capital Intervention Impacts Rural Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Two Suburban Villages near Wuhan

Yongwei Tang, Yong Zhou, Hui Ci, Helin Liu (), Mei Luo, Ying Xu and Maomao Zhang
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Yongwei Tang: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Yong Zhou: Jiangxi Academy of Social Sciences, Nanchang 330077, China
Hui Ci: Hangzhou City Planning and Design Academy, Hangzhou 310020, China
Helin Liu: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Mei Luo: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Ying Xu: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Maomao Zhang: College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Capital plays a crucial role in driving rural sustainable development. Some rural areas have achieved revitalization through capital intervention, while others have experienced failure. It is possible that the purposes of capital intervention initiated by different parties (such as government, enterprises, and individual investors) in rural areas differ, which leads to the divergence of development routes and effectiveness. Yet, the questions of why and how this phenomenon occurs have not been well studied. Based on observation and an in-depth interview conducted in two suburban villages near Wuhan, we have established an analytical framework with which to compare the route and effectiveness of rural developments driven by capital intervention. The results are as follows: (1) The sources of capital and the embedded purposes determine the modes of rural resource reconfiguration and the arrangement of the relevant industrial sectors. The answer to the question of how to allocate capital gains among different interest groups engaged in rural development determines whether a community of shared interests with respect to sustainable rural development can be established and operate effectively. (2) As the profit-making process differs among capital originating from different sources, it is necessary to evaluate this process such that the pursuit of capital gains and its influence upon rural sustainable development can be clarified and coordinated. (3) Throughout the capital intervention process, villagers’ participation is crucial as it is the prerequisite for the establishment of a mutually beneficial win–win relationship between external capital investors and local villagers. This comparative study of the two villages can provide insights into policy formulation for the purpose of rural revitalization in China and other countries in the Global South undergoing rapid urbanization.

Keywords: capital intervention; rural areas; sustainable development; suburban areas of Wuhan; case comparison (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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