Abstract
Using data collected from semi-structured interviews with 485 households, this research evaluates the effect of perceived livelihood risk on livelihood strategies within farming households in China’s Shiyang River Basin. Perceived livelihood risk was evaluated by establishing an index system of livelihood risk (health, environmental, financial, social, and information and connectivity risks). Different livelihood strategies were identified, including reducing consumption, seeking help from relatives and friends, securing loans, seeking employment, and converting assets into cash. The effect of perceived livelihood risk on livelihood strategies was measured and evaluated using multinomial logistic regression. The results indicate that the effect of different perceived livelihood risk on livelihood strategies varies. Personality traits, as well as perceived health risk, financial risk, social risk, and environmental risk influence livelihood strategies, while perceived information risk and connectivity risk do not appear to have obvious relationships to livelihood strategies. Finally, we present proposals for ensuring farmers’ livelihood strategies are more effective.
Highlights
The issue of “livelihood risk” in work on sustainable development has become the subject of intensive conceptual and empirical research [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Each perceived risk indicator in the livelihood risk index system is explored through questions in our survey and assigned a value according to the responses from household heads
For category 2, we found none of the six risks was significantly associated with the dependent variable, suggesting that the livelihood strategies of “wait for relatives and friends” help’ could not be affected by the perceived livelihood risk and personality traits
Summary
The issue of “livelihood risk” in work on sustainable development has become the subject of intensive conceptual and empirical research [1,2,3,4,5,6]. As a foundation for understanding human response actions, risk cognition, based on experiences, feelings, and local knowledge, is fundamental to an appreciation of the interrelationship between people and risk change in particular places [8]. In light of their close dependence on natural resources, farmers perceive livelihood risk keenly and are among the first to adopt coping behaviors. Research examining the influence of perceived livelihood risk on livelihood strategies offers a new perspective to help guide farmers’ effective coping behaviors and improve their adaptability [9]
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