A Study of the Strategy and Measures for Poverty Alleviation in Rural China

(1) Criteria to Determine Poor Population in Rural Areas of China and Their Evolution

(2) Change of the Poor Population in Rural Areas of China over the Years

(3) Criteria to Determine Poor Counties and Their Evolution

(4) Distribution of Poor Population in Rural Areas of -China

(5) Types of Poor Population

                    (6) Causes of Poverty

3. Brief Description of Poverty Alleviation Strategy and Measures in China

4. Introduction and Evaluition of Poverty Alleviation Measures and Methods in China

(1) Food for Work Program

(2) Specific Poverty Alleviation Loan with Subsidized Interest Rate

(3) Migration

(4) Partnership Effort by Ministries and Commissions of the Central Government

(5) Programs of Poverty Alleviation by Science and Technology

(6) Support for Social Undertakings in Poor Areas to Enhince Qualifications of Poor Population

(7) G.S Pattern Experimentation in China

(8) Program of Agricultural Construction in Three Special Areas

(9) Role of Non-Governmental Organizations and International Aid in Poverty Alleviation in China

1. Introduction

The study is prepared upon the request of ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific as China poverty alleviation micro interventions of the Regional Poverty Alleviation Program launched by the office. The study is completed by three scholars from the State Planning Commission and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The purpose of the study is to make a summary and review of the type, size, regional distribution, cost (input) and problems of various specific micro interventions taken by the Chinese Government in poverty alleviation (mainly in rural areas), evaluate the results of these micro interventions and on this basis propose recommendations for poverty alleviation policies of the Chinese Government. Due to the limited time and funds, no field surveys were made at the project sites. The second-hand data from existing documents and statistics are taken as the main information source.

The study is Composed of 5 parts. The second part describes the general status of poor population in rural areas of China, including criteria to determine poor population, distribution and types of poor population arid causes of poverty. It can promote an understanding of the macro background for specific micro interventions taken by the Chinese Government in poverty alleviation. As poor population in rural areas of China is great in amount and scattered in distribution and the types of poor population and causes of poverty are varied, the Chinese Government has taken various specific poverty alleviation measures since the early 80's to ease the poverty pressure. The third part gives a brief description and an overall evaluation of the poverty alleviation strategy and measures taken by the Chinese Government. It reflects the evolution of the poverty alleviation strategy in China. The fourth part makes a detailed analysis and summary of the size, regional distribution, cost (input) and problems of various specific micro interventions the Chinese Government has taken in poverty alleviation. What is worth pointing out here is that these specific micro interventions of poverty alleviation can be divided into those basically directed to farmer households and those mainly directed to regional development, or by the poverty alleviation strategy, into those creating self employment opportunities and those creating wage employment opportunities. These are also the practice in the specific micro interventions of poverty alleviation taken by the Chinese Government in rural areas of China. We have not made such division in our analysis, though, because most of poverty alleviation measures in China have a comprehensive and multi-objective feature and focus on a strategy of regional development promoting poverty alleviation of poor population. If the above division is made, it would be hard to classify some poverty alleviation measures with overlapping objectives. The fifth part sums up experience and problems of various specific micro interventions taken by the Chinese Government in poverty alleviation and proposes some specific recommendations.