Abstract The ecological condition differences in the western region of China account for the spatial variation in its household economy. The household economy of poverty-stricken communities is mainly distributed in areas of poor ecological conditions. Poor ecological conditions result in low productivity and profit. The interlamination between poverty and ecological deterioration has fallen into a vicious circle. Greater varieties of new production factors and product makeup are found among households of lo w-income comm unities. However, the contract period of land-use is unstable, and the household economy is dualized. The households are developing pluralized trades. The above facts are hindering the development of the com munity's household economy. Household enterprises are sparsely distributed, which does not form an economy of scale. The major obstacle of their development is that the land property right is beyond transaction. The household economies in West China are confronted with varied difficulties. The povertystricken communities, hoping to shake off poverty and become rich, are facing the dilemma of great population pressure and fragile ecological conditions, and other difficulties such as heavy average household taxes and inadequate capacities of financing the rural economy. The low-income households have to deal with problems such as low-income level, poor education, and shortage of enterprises, which can help the households undertaking, industrialized business. The well-off ones have to solve the problems such as severe outflow of production factors from West China, and the lagging reformation of the system in rural areas. Various measures should be taken to respectively enhance the development of different household economies in West China. The potential strategies that we should adopt are as follows:the poor households should shake off poverty by different means with the government's guide and assistance;the lowincome households should develop industrialized agricultural business by encouraging and establishing cooperative operation organizations;and the family economy of those well-off households should be enhanced by establishing an innovated system, so as to promote the development of the household economy in the western region of China.
2002, Vol. 17 
