Challenges in Chinese Path to Modernization of Agriculture and Rural Areas: A Comparison With the U.S.

Abstract

This study establishes, for the first time, an index system for comparing agricultural and rural modernization in China and the United States, which aims to identify key challenges in China’s agricultural and rural development by contrasting indicators from both countries. Overall, China’s current level of agriculture and rural modernization is akin to that of the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, with an approximate time lag of 60 years. China exhibits the largest gap with the U.S. in agricultural modernization and the smallest gap in rural modernization. Three key indicators in China that require improvement compared to the United States are the disposable income of rural residents, the population size supported by each agricultural laborer, and the share of agricultural employment. This research lays down a theoretical foundation and practical strategies for advancing the Chinese path to agriculture and modernization in rural areas.