Agricultural development policy diffusion associated with leading cadre’s experience and expansion of protected agriculture in China

Protected agriculture has notably expanded since 2010 in China and many factors have influenced protected agricultural expansion. Yet little attention been paid to how the successful experiences of demonstration areas diffused. Leading cadres are considered play an important role policy diffusion process, yet influence leading with connections industry regions on development. Thus, this study examined impact mayors municipal party secretaries connected four regions—Shandong Province, Jiangsu Hebei Liaoning Province—on expansion agriculture. This used panel data from 314 prefectural-level cities 1792 counties for period 2014–2018 multidimensional fixed-effects model a quantitative study. The results show that significantly contribute agriculture, scale county-level under their jurisdiction being average 10.8% higher than unconnected mayors. effect was not significant. In addition, there were geographical differences positive is weakened when area located less economically developed western region or part comprehensive climate unsuitable during March-June sowing period. Shandong Province respectively had different but impacts