Studies On Rural Households' Consumption Function In China

The dissertation is composed of 8 chapters in logical order, including 27 sections. Chapter II to IV are the theoretic analysis part, which provides the micro-foundation and theoretic base for the consumption function research. Chapter V to VII are the positive part of the consumption function research. And Chapter VIII is the coupling of result analysis with policy explanations.In the preface, the purpose and significance of the topic study are clarified; the recent development of the research in this field at home and abroad is synthesized; the basic clue, research methods and structure of the dissertation are expounded; the main creative ideas and the problems in need of further study are introduced. Based on the above analyses, the author points out that the consumption function research can provide a new and deep visual angle for the consumption field. Chapter II to IV offer microcosmic foundation and theoretic groundwork. Chapter II primarily analyzes the historical evolutional track and realistic characteristic of Chinese rural households' consumption from the view of consumption level and structure, In the research, the author uses Extended-Linear-Expenditure-System model (ELES) to explain the changes of rural households' consumption level and structure from the theoretic and positive aspects. To eliminate the mistaken practice that consumer behavior is always neglected in consumption function research, Chapter III specially analyzes Chinese rural households' consumption behavior. In Chapter IV, a theoretic frame of Chinese rural households' consumption behavior analysis, the author brings up the theoretic frame of three consumption function analyses - Bathtub-shaped Curve, Rural Households' Positional Consumption and Myopic Consumption. Chapter V to VII are core parts of the dissertation. On the base of dividing Chinese rural households' consumption into three stages since 1954, Chapter VI respectively sets up Chinese rural households' consumption function models under the traditional system and transforming economy system. In this chapter, the author uses econometrics to verify the hypotheses on consumer behavior and consumption function and some related problems. Chapter VII specially studies the durable goods which play an important role in exploiting the rural market. Chapter Vffl is the conclusion part, providing the opinions of policy coupling.This dissertation comprehensively applies Economics, Agricultural Economics and Consumption Economics, in conformity to the principle of unifying history and logic. And it manages to illustrate the interrelations and dynamic law of economic variables as to consumption economy and analyze the policy instructions, the variables imply by means of the integrations of macro- and micro-analysis, positive and normative study and quantitative and qualitative analysis etc. Other methods, such as econometric models, statistical analysis and comparative analysis, are also employed in the course of the research. The main innovations in this dissertation are as follows :When Hesperian consumption function theory, deeply rooted in the culture of Occidental social system and economic institution ,is used to study Chinese rural households' consumption behavior and construct the consumption model, we must premise it with our native rural households' consumption behavior analysis. The dissertation discusses this problem in great length , providing microcosmic foundation for the consumption theory research ni China.When using Extended Linear Expenditure System (ELES) to study consumption problem, many scholars always neglect the implicit hypotheses that the system is steady and income gap is small, resulting in dissatisfactory outcomes. When it comes to Chinese rural households' consumption problem, it is particularly obvious because there is huge regional difference and income gap in our country. To solve the problem, the author introduces a dummy variable representing the rural households' income gap in the ELES model, and thus expands ELES to the 2 Extende...