Multidimensional spatiotemporal evolution detection on China’s rural poverty alleviation

Abstract

This research built a county-level multidimensional poverty measurement model to examine the regional development difference in poverty Alleviation of rural China. It revealed the spatiotemporal evolution of poverty reduction using spatiotemporal statistical methods and an evolution tree. The results showed the followings: (1) the comprehensive poverty in rural China continued to decline, and the poverty reduction mode changed from the partial to the overall balanced. Spatial heterogeneity of rural development existed, presenting a typical stepped structure that was high in the west and low in the east, where different levels of dotted poverty kernels were scattered. The overall spatial agglomeration of poverty declined and local spatial agglomeration was enhanced. (2) The dimensional development was unbalanced, and there were significant differences in poverty structure between the east and the west of rural China. The influence of economic growth on overall poverty alleviation had been slowing down. Meanwhile, the effects of social security and infrastructure on poverty alleviation were obvious and the impact of health care and cultural education gradually increased. (3) Spatially adjacent areas often had the similar evolutionary path of poverty reduction. Ecological poverty reduction will become a trend in poverty alleviation efforts, because some natural conditions become key factors to alleviate poverty.