Who Bears the Burden of Farming in the Age of Mechanization? Intergenerational Labor Reallocation in Rural China

Abstract

This study investigated how agricultural mechanization in China has reshaped rural labor dynamics across age groups. Using the 2020 China Family Panel Studies survey data matched with provincial‐level agricultural mechanization indicators and employing bivariate probit and linear regression models, the analysis shows that mechanization has significantly reduced agricultural work participation among young and middle‐aged workers, facilitating their transition into nonagricultural sectors. In contrast, older individuals remained deeply engaged in agriculture, experiencing little reduction in work intensity. This divergence stemmed from two interrelated factors. First, intrahousehold labor reallocation, where younger household members exited farming while the elderly stayed behind. Second, older farmers had limited adoption of mechanization, often constrained by the high cost of agricultural mechanization services, the low profitability of agricultural income, and the frugality often displayed by older individuals. The study highlights the need for elder‐friendly mechanization to support rural labor transitions and reduce the burden on older people.