Livelihoods Frameworks Analysis and Selection for Chinese Rural Residents

Abstract

Livelihood is used for some development issues, especial for poverty reduction. Selecting a suitable livelihood analysis tool is quite important. There are many research frameworks of rural residents' livelihood. The representative ones are social exclusion analysis, vulnerability analysis and sustainability analysis. This paper aims to summarize the definitions of livelihood and its research tools, use SWOT to analyze different livelihood frameworks to find the characters of them. Basic on the framework analyses, this paper finds that the sustainable livelihood is a personal-oriented framework, and is more suitable for Chinese rural residents. Index Terms - Livelihood, Framework, Rural, Comparison 1. Definition of livelihood research framework According to the literatures, a large number of researchers have discussed the livelihoods. Ellis. F (1), Scoones(2), Chambers & Conway (3) and Carney D (4) have given their definitions of rural residents' livelihoods too. Different definitions have different attitudes about the livelihood. Though the definitions are different, the elements are almost the same. Assets and the usages of these assets are both included in it. Taking the conception of CARE ( Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere) for example, CARE thinks that the ability, the accessibility of tangible and intangible assets, and the related economic activities are the three basic elements of rural residents' livelihood system. The decision-making of rural residents' living is not random, but it is restrict by economic, society and assets (5). Livelihood is used for some development issues. According to literatures, different definitions have different focuses. Selecting a suitable livelihood analysis tool is quite important. Livelihood research framework was proposed in 1990s. Basic on the definitions of livelihood, this paper thinks the livelihood research framework is a research method or a research tool which can be used to analyze the assets, find the needs of livelihood resources and give the suggestions of the usage of the livelihood assets. There are some special functions of the livelihood framework.① Analyzing. As a special tool, this framework can be used for analyzing and describing. ②Diagnosis. This framework can also be used to find the lack of the assets and weakness of the livelihood strategies of rural residents. ③Treatment. The framework can give the path by which the rural residents can get more livelihood assets, and transfer their livelihood strategies. ④ Assessment. Index system can be made to assess the livelihoods assets and strategies. 2. Mainly livelihood research frameworks analyses There are many research frameworks of rural residents' livelihood. The representative ones are social exclusion analysis, vulnerability analysis and sustainability analysis.