This paper makes an appraisal of the successful experience of China, a country with the largest agricultural population in the world, in the reduction of rural poverty. We conclude that it is an indispensible strategy...This paper makes an appraisal of the successful experience of China, a country with the largest agricultural population in the world, in the reduction of rural poverty. We conclude that it is an indispensible strategy to give priority to the development of urban sectors to promote economic growth and reduce rural poverty, and that the development of low value-added agriculture yields few, if any, benefits in decreasing rural poverty. By first adopting urban-biased policies and promoting industrialization, China has created new sources of economic growth and urban employment opportunities to absorb the surplus rural workforce. Entering labor-intensive industrial sectors for higher incomes has thus become a critical avenue for the rural poor to benefit from economic growth and escape poverty.展开更多
文摘This paper makes an appraisal of the successful experience of China, a country with the largest agricultural population in the world, in the reduction of rural poverty. We conclude that it is an indispensible strategy to give priority to the development of urban sectors to promote economic growth and reduce rural poverty, and that the development of low value-added agriculture yields few, if any, benefits in decreasing rural poverty. By first adopting urban-biased policies and promoting industrialization, China has created new sources of economic growth and urban employment opportunities to absorb the surplus rural workforce. Entering labor-intensive industrial sectors for higher incomes has thus become a critical avenue for the rural poor to benefit from economic growth and escape poverty.
