|
|
|
| RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE LESS DEVELOPED REGION OF CHINA: A HOUSEHOLD PERSPECTIVE |
| LI Xiao-jian1,2, SHI Hui-na1 |
1. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development/College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475001, China;
2. Department of Resources and Environmental Science, Henan University of Finance and Economics, Zhengzhou 450002, China |
|
|
|
|
Abstract This study uses the data from a sample survey conducted in April 2007 on 1251 rural households living in 11 villages of Henan, the largest less developed agricultural province in China, to examine the behaviors of rural households and regional development. The result indicates that, firstly, rural households mainly attribute the obstacles to the development of rural areas to insufficient funds, unfavorable environment which includes poor infrastructure, isolated geographical location, lacking industrial plants, and little arable lands; at the same time, less potential capability of individual peasants, such as lack of technology, poor education background, also adds to the problems to some extent. Secondly, the farmers' expectation for the external support in future years in the development in rural areas is to set up plants or draw outside investments in those areas. Some households hope that the government should help to create favorable development atmosphere for the villages. Thirdly, rural households wish, in the first place, to improve their living standards in near future, yet their final expectations become more inexplicit with longer time spans. Fourthly, most rural households (claims 71.58% of total samples) consider their contemporary living status as "merely satisfactory" or "satisfactory". This indicates that as long as their living standard is improving, rural households will feel happy. Fifthly, there are an adequate amount of rural households who have no clear idea of the concurrent obstacles to the local economic development, the necessary external support, and the expectation of future development. According to the questionnaires, those who "have no idea" on the 3 items above take up as much as 7.0%, 14.3% and 29.1% of the total samples respectively. Finally, among the factors which have strong influence on rural households in designing their future development, family income status, education level, and geographical environment is more prevailing. The findings from this study have some policy implications. The policy makers should consider the various behaviors of rural household groups, giving their specific development advice. It is also important to encourage the early-rich families to assist the poor families in finding the suitable ways to utilize their resources. Each household has its potential which should be realized in various methods.
|
|
Received: 08 September 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008, Vol. 23 
