Research On Degree And Factors Of Intergenerational Transmission Of Poverty Of Sichuan Rural Region

Poverty has persistently plagued the social development of rural areas. Exacerbating this situation, intergenerational transmission of poverty has, and will continue to be one of the most obstinate factors in alleviating this social ill. Given that little has been written on this issue, the author, based on first-hand research in poor rural areas in Sichuan, tries to find both endogenous and exogenous factors that lead to intergenerational transference of poverty. By doing so, an analytical framework can be built which hopefully will bring forth effective anti-poverty initiatives.This thesis consists of six chapters:1) Introduction. An overview of the topic, its importance and research objectives. Provide currently available research findings and ideas. Discuss studying angles, hypothesis and the structure, and both the strength and weakness of the thesis.2) Quantitative analysis of the magnitude of intergenerational transference of poverty in rural areas of Sichuan. Focusing on the counties of Jianyang, Peng'an, and Leibo, the statistics are drawn from comparing rural residents' childhood and current household income of those who were born in 1975.3) Finding endogenous factors of intergenerational transference of poverty by conducting interviews and case studies.4) Finding exogenous factors by examining macroeconomic variables and indicators that are most relevant to each of those three counties.5) An economic analysis of individual behavior. Under the assumption that each person is a rational "economic entity", tackle the commonly and frequently mentioned characteristics associated with poverty such as lackadaisical lifestyle, child overbearing, and low emphasis on education. Understanding systematically how poverty is transferred to the future generations.6) Finding logical and sustainable solutions in severing the stranglehold of intergenerational transference of poverty.Due to the myriad factors that leads to intergenerational transference of poverty, the difficulties in obtaining valuable data, and lack of related references, systematically studying this social problem in Sichuan has been much more complex than expected. However, the author still advanced the research in the following areas:1. Using data gathered from research subjects' life changes through a rather long period of time (thirty years since the 1970s), discussing the magnitude of intergenerational transference of poverty.2. By analyzing on-site surveying results and research statistics, finding the dominant factors on the vicious cycle of intergenerational transference of poverty that could become the theoretical foundation of anti-poverty initiatives or when making new policies.3. Most of the discussions and work on alleviating poverty have been predominantly bearing the concepts derived from social science. Thus the prevailing thinking tends to suggest that when taking an exogenous view, poverty is the result of environmental degradation, low educational level, and laziness on the part of the individuals themselves. Rarely has economical analysis been done to the individuals living in poor rural areas. The author would like to argue through the presentation of this thesis, that poverty transference is the direct result of mostly rational economic choices done by the people living in such difficult environment. This thesis would like to lay a microeconomic foundation for understanding intergenerational transference of poverty.