Does ICT mediate the link between women’s empowerment and rural income inequality? Evidence from Western China

Abstract Income inequality among farmers remains a significant global challenge, particularly for poverty eradication efforts. With shifting gender roles and the expansion of information and communication technology (ICT), investigating whether women’s empowerment can alleviate income inequality from an ICT perspective is critical to ensure shared prosperity in rural areas. This study analyzes panel data from 2166 farm households in six counties across Yunnan, Shaanxi, and Guizhou provinces, collected in 2018 and 2021. Fixed-effects regression is employed to quantify the impacts of women’s empowerment and ICT on rural income disparities, and, to examine ICT’s mediating role between women’s empowerment and income inequality. Results show that enhancing women’s agency significantly reduces income inequality and facilitates ICT adoption, while ICT adoption independently mitigates income disparities. In male out-migration households, ICT serves as a key transmission channel connecting women’s empowerment to reduced income gaps. The inequality-reducing effect is more pronounced in agricultural households. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers. In the context of male out-migration, strengthening women’s empowerment not only raises household income but, when combined with expanded ICT access, further narrows income disparities. This study underscores the synergistic potential of integrating women’s empowerment initiatives with digital inclusion strategies to foster rural economic equity.