Mirroring the urban exodus: The impact of return migration on rural entrepreneurship

This study explores the impact of internal return migration on rural household entrepreneurship in China, utilizing data from the China Household Finance Survey. Analysis reveals that return migration significantly increases the likelihood of rural households initiating businesses, with education and household debt levels acting as key moderators. The findings suggest that return migration can act as a catalyst for rural entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of targeted educational and financial support for returnees. The research underscores the potential of return migration to contribute to rural economic development, advocating for policies that facilitate the reintegration of migrants into rural economies.