The Analysis of Representation and Mechanism of Application of Strong and Weak Ties in Rural Land Circulation — A Case Study of Gaopo Village in Sichuan Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/ijomsr.2025.08(12).05Keywords:
Strong ties, weak ties, Farmland transfer, Social capitalAbstract
At present, the market institutions and legal framework for rural land circulation in China are underdeveloped, and social relations play a crucial role in this process. Based on typical case studies, this paper analyzes the correlation between strong/weak ties and rural land circulation. The results indicate that rural households make land circulation decisions based on their social networks: households with limited social capital tend to choose land circulation through strong ties, which is characterized by a narrow circulation scope, predominant oral agreements, lack of time limits, and difficulty in forming large-scale operations. In contrast, households with abundant social capital are more likely to engage in land circulation through weak ties, featuring a broad circulation scope, written agreements specifying circulation duration and rent, and the ability to achieve large-scale operations. Ultimately, social relations in rural land circulation serve as a supplement to the defective market allocation mechanism, but may also give rise to negative effects.
References
Chen M Q, Deng A Z, Zhou B J, et al. An Empirical Study on the Factors Influencing Farmers' Behavior in Cultivated Land Circulation—Based on a Sampling Survey of 74 Administrative Villages in 64 Towns of 42 Counties/Cities in Jiangxi Province[J]. China Soft Science, 2008(7): 6-13.
Liu K C. Market Circulation and Administrative Adjustment of Farmland Contract Management Rights: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis—Based on Farmer-Level Research in Jiangxi Province[J]. Journal of Quantitative & Technical Economics, 2005(11): 99-112.
Huang Y T. Farmland Circulation: A Study on Institutional Innovation in the Process of Scalization[J]. Social Sciences in China, 2012(1): 58-65.
Huang X J. Research on the Formation Mechanism, Operation Mode and Institutional Regulation of Rural Land Circulation in China[J]. Jiangsu Social Sciences, 2002(2).
Ye J P. An Investigation and Study on China's Rural Land Circulation Market—Analysis and Suggestions Based on a Survey of 17 Provinces in 2005[J]. China Rural Survey, 2006(4): 48-55.
Qian Z H. The Incompleteness of Farmland Contract Management Rights and the Dilemma of Market Circulation—Theoretical and Policy Analysis[J]. Management World, 2002(6): 35-48.
Ding G L. A Discussion on the Nature of Rural Land Contract Management Rights[J]. Chinese Rural Economy, 1999(7): 23-31.
Zhang H Y. Rural Land Adjustment and Right Circulation in China—Some Comments[J]. Management World, 2002(5): 76-87.
Zhong Z B, Wang P. An Analysis of Farmers' Behavior in Farmland Circulation—Based on a Questionnaire Survey of Farmers in Hubei, Zhejiang and Other Regions[J]. China Rural Survey, 2003(6): 55-64+81.
He G J. An Analysis of Suburban Farmers' Willingness to Circulate Land—Based on an Empirical Study of 6 Villages in the Suburbs of Beijing[J]. Chinese Rural Economy, 2007(5): 111-124.
Bao H J, Wu C F. On the Construction of a Social Security System for Land-Lost Farmers[J]. Management World, 2002(10): 37-42.
Dong G L, Li L, Ren J P. Land Circulation Modes and Economic Performance Under the Perspective of Property Rights Agency Analysis[J]. Sociological Studies, 2009(1): 25-63+243.
He X F. An Efficiency Analysis of Rural Land Circulation[J]. Reform, 2003(4): 87-92.
Cao J H, Wang H Y, Huang X M. A Study on Farmers' Supply and Demand Willingness for Rural Land Circulation and Its Circulation Efficiency Evaluation[J]. China Land Science, 2007(5): 54-60.
Lin X. On the Social Risks of Farmland Circulation and Their Prevention Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Southwest Minzu University (Humanities & Social Sciences Edition), 2009(8): 206-210.
Wang D F, Li G H. An Analysis of the Economic and Social Consequences of Large-Scale Farmland Circulation—Based on an Investigation of Lincun Village in Southern Anhui[J]. Journal of South China Agricultural University (Social Science Edition), 2011(2): 13-22.
Guo L. Incomplete Marketization: A Perspective for Understanding Current Land Circulation—Based on an Empirical Survey of Y Town in Henan Province[J]. Journal of Nanjing Agricultural University (Social Sciences Edition), 2010(4): 21-27+42.
Deng D C. The Risks of Rural Land Circulation and Their Avoidance Approaches[J]. Reality Only, 2004(7): 24-27.
Liu L P. The Use of Ties Among Migrant Groups—A Case Study of Pingjiang Village in Shenzhen[J]. Social Sciences in China, 2001(5): 112-124.
Bian Y J, Zhang W H. Economic System, Social Networks and Occupational Mobility[J]. Social Sciences in China, 2001(2): 77-89.
Lin N, Yu H Q. Social Networks and Status Attainment[J]. Marxism & Reality, 2003(2): 46-59.
Zhao L. A Review and Reflection on Theories and Research Related to Social Networks[J]. Journal of China Youth University for Political Sciences, 2011(2): 120-124.
Chen Y Y, Liu L P. On the Influence of Familism on Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia[J]. Journal of Sun Yat-sen University (Social Science Edition), 1998(5): 86-92.
Bian Y J, Zhang L. On Guanxi Culture and Guanxi Social Capital[J]. Journal of Humanities, 2013(1): 107-113.
Xiang B. Transcending Boundaries: The Life History of Beijing's "Zhejiang Village"[M]. Beijing: SDX Joint Publishing Company, 2000.
Granovetter M S. The Strength of Weak Ties[J]. American Journal of Sociology, 1973, 78(6): 1360-1380.
Bian Y J. Bringing Strong Ties Back In: Indirect Ties, Network Bridges, and Job Searches in China[J]. American Sociological Review, 1997, 62(3): 366-385.
Lin N. Social Capital: A Theory of Social Structure and Action[M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.