Current-Poverty Reduction Study In Western Rural Area

In 2007, 59.3% of the Chinese rural poor population is in the west with absolute poverty. The massive poverty in west China will not only hinder the development of national economy and social stability, but jeopardizes the country's sustainability and potential as a whole, which severely hampers the endeavor for a moderately better-off society in the west. This thesis, based on the overview of history and experience of poverty reduction in Chinese rural areas, focusing on the basic fact and problems of the western poverty-stricken areas, so as to analyze and elaborate some anti-poverty strategies and tries to provide some thoughts on basic patterns for poverty-reduction and sustainable development in the west. Main Content.Anti-poverty solutions can only be viable when focusing on the inherent nature of rural poverty. Therefore, this thesis first draws upon lessons and experience from both home and abroad, and deliberates on the generality of rural poverty theories, and points out the characters in rural poverty reduction and discusses on the object and its functions in rural poverty reduction. Later on, through studying history and status quo of western poor population's constitution, distribution and causes for poverty in the area, the author provides theoretical and realistic references for policy making. Finally, the author proposes the status quo, target, task, basic concept, path and patterns in poverty reduction in this area based on the basic pattern for rural poverty reduction and sustainable development, and provides some innovative approach in terms of institution and technology. The main research objects are:1. The common nature and root causes for rural poverty. This is done through summarizing relevant lessons and experience both home and abroad.2. A chronological study of poverty reduction in western rural areas. Through the study of poverty reduction actions since 1949, the author studies the causes for it, draws lessons and experience from the previous actions and tries to look into the root causes for poverty, and provides reference for decision making in this regard. 3. Characters and causes for poverty in western rural areas. Through a study for socio-economic development in Western rural areas, the author analyzes the nature and causes for it.4. Current situation, target, task, concept, approach and pattern for poverty reduction in western rural areas. The research is based on listing the pros and cons in rural development, and identifies target and tasks based on the reality, and ultimately provides concrete concepts, approaches and patterns.5. Institutional innovation research. Institutional innovation is the juncture for poverty reduction in western rural areas. This part will be dedicated to the development of socialist market economy, infrastructure, industrial policies, incentives, production structures, thus propose an innovated institutional framework.6. Technological innovation research. Studies will be given on the standard, type, source, transfer and function of technologies applied in poverty reduction so as to provide plausible approaches for poverty reduction.7. Study on the strategic advancement of poverty reduction in rural areas.Research Conclusions1. Similarities of characters and causes for rural poverty widely exist. Shared characters are: unfavorable natural environment, poor natural reserves; low social production level, backward production mode, low accumulation of wealth; acute conflict among people, resources and economic development. Similar causes are: poor agriculture, closed and underdeveloped rural economy, underdeveloped market system, inadequate central and provincial support, insufficient self-motivation.2. Poverty in Western rural areas is absolute poverty. It is indicated by: unfavorable natural environment, fragile ecology, inadequate infrastructure, closed socio-economic system, low self-development; and also demonstrated by: low labor quality, low production level, low living and production conditions, weak initiative and marginalization.3. The factors attributing to western rural poverty are varied, and are made by multiple constraints; this makes anti-poverty quite a tough task. Such factors are: historical factors, institutional and policy factors, natural constraints, inadequate infrastructure input, industrial development factors, social and people-derived factors. Such complexity makes our work very daunting.4. The key for poverty reduction should be the improvement of development condition and development capabilities, earnest advancement of industries. Based on this point, the strategies shall be: focusing on poor population, with the support of government and mass social participation, develop eco-agriculture with high returns, so as to enhance the independent development of rural areas.5. Given the sophisticated causes and severe poverty in western rural areas, poverty reduction shall be formulated on the reality of those areas and adopt a comprehensive approach. Such approaches include: to promote local agriculture with special features, non-agricultural product development, poverty reduction through relocation. In choosing such patterns, considerations shall be given to "village by village", i.e. advance by communities, or "industry by industry", i.e. the development through different industrial sectors.6. Institutional innovation is a crucial factor for poverty reduction in this area. Those innovative approaches may contain: promulgation of anti-poverty law, a centralized management of anti-poverty resources, scientific and democratic management of such projects and funds, establishment of financial supporting mechanism, improvement of western rural market system, incentives and flexible policies in western poverty striking areas.7. On top of institutional innovation, efforts should be given to have innovative technology so as to eliminate weak points in regional development gap. In choosing technologies, focus should be given on resource-conserving, eco-friendly, high-quality product, to make the production, storage and transportation of farm goods more efficient and more extensive. Meanwhile, give play to the object of innovation and facilitate the various channels for technological transfer.8. Poverty reduction in western poor areas are systematic, comprehensive projects. Plans should be scientific, rational and applicable, with the mechanism of government taking the major role, and follow the law of market economy.Innovative points and major breakthrough1. This thesis formulates a model for poverty assessment in Chinese rural population and redefines the poverty threshold. Previous poverty thresholds only stresses material poverty, i.e. classify poverty by income, while lacks other consideration. This leads to a material-based poverty reduction focusing on the change of economic index, while ignoring "mental poverty" and weak development capabilities. The author believes an innovative poverty reduction shall be started by re-defining poverty, i.e. there are mental poverty, development capability scarcity and opportunity poverty on top of material poverty. This is the very reason the author refer the traditional sense of "poverty" as "the poverty line for survival"(SPL), which indicates the income meeting basic living standards, while proposes another poverty threshold: the poverty line for development (DPL). This line refers to more than basic income, but purchasing power meeting average education and medicare cost.DPL=SPL+GPL+EPL (GPL refers to other basic living necessities)2. The author proposes that poor famer themselves should be targeted as the central task during poverty alleviation in western areas. Efforts should be made to encourage and support the empowerment and participation of them. During such campaign, famers should have more say in decision making, more participation in project implementation, more benefits to share in those poverty-alleviation project.3. The author proposes the improvement of market competitiveness should be prioritized for combating poverty in western rural areas. Weak market competitiveness is the root cause of poverty. Vicious circle will be formed if this doesn't change. We shall endeavor to develop new agriculture with high efficiency and special characters, improve infrastructure, enhance cooperation between famers so as to lift the market competitiveness of famers, villages and agriculture in western China as a whole.