Multifaceted effects and realization mechanisms of return migrants empowering rural revitalization in key agricultural regions of China: A case study of Jianghan Plain

Empowering rural revitalization through the return migrant population is a critical measure to address the challenges of rural brain drain and hollowing-out, stimulate endogenous development momentum, and achieve comprehensive rural revitalization. Utilizing methods such as comprehensive evaluation models and fixed-effects models, this study investigates the empowering effects and mechanisms of return migrants on rural revitalization in the Jianghan Plain from 2013 to 2022. The results showed that: (1) From 2013 to 2022, the scale of return migrants in the study area exhibited fluctuating trends, with a spatial distribution characterized by "higher in the south and lower in the north." The level of rural revitalization showed a significant overall increase, demonstrating a development pattern of "multi-core driving, comprehensive growth" across the region. (2) Return migrants have a significantly positive driving effect on rural revitalization, a conclusion that remains robust after a series of reliability and endogeneity tests. (3) Return migrants contribute to rural development and empower rural revitalization primarily through promoting prosperous rural industries, assisting in achieving ecological livability, guiding the advancement of rural civilization, facilitating effective rural governance, and enhancing affluent living standards in rural areas. The research findings can provide theoretical support and practical reference for effectively promoting the participation of returning migrants in rural construction, optimizing empowerment pathways, and thereby achieving endogenous sustainable development of rural areas.