The present invention provides: a process for producing a water-absorbing agent at low temperature in a short time, wherein the water-absorbing agent has excellent balance between the absorption capacity without load and the absorption capacity under a load, high fluidity under a hygroscopic atmosphere, and excellent safety; and a novel water-absorbing agent and a novel crosslinking agent particularly suitable for crosslinking water-absorbent resins. The water-absorbing agent, having excellent balance between the absorption capacity without load and the absorption capacity under a load, high fluidity under a hygroscopic atmosphere, and excellent safety, can be obtained by using an oxetane compound and/or an imidazolidinone compound for a water-absorbent resin.