Abstract
The development of specialized villages in China is an interesting trend. This paper studies specialized villages in China by using the rational small household theory, division of labor and specialization concepts, as well as the distance decay and neighborhood effect theories. We use the census data on specialized villages in Henan Province (the largest agricultural province in China) from 2010 as the basis for a case study, applying dummy variables representing sixteen types of specialized villages, and selecting environmental variables, such as land form, location, arable land area, and labor force characteristics. We find that significant factors related to specialization are location and production factors. Policy implications of this research are discussed.
Highlights
Rapid economic growth in China has been accompanied by both significant structural changes and the division and redistribution of labor in the rural economy [1,2,3]
As many rural households in the same village specialized in the same economic activity to take advantage of economies of scale and locally preponderant production factors, a new geographic phenomenon has emerged in rural China and Asia [3,7]
According to Li et al [9], a specialized village refers to a village in which most of the rural households are engaged in one single production and/or service-related activity, or several production activities and/or services that are closely related to each other in a production chain
Summary
Rapid economic growth in China has been accompanied by both significant structural changes and the division and redistribution of labor in the rural economy [1,2,3]. As many rural households in the same village specialized in the same economic activity to take advantage of economies of scale and locally preponderant production factors, a new geographic phenomenon has emerged in rural China and Asia [3,7]. CAccocrodridnigngtotoHHagaegresrtsratrnadnd[3[53]5]ananddMMuurdrdoochch[3[366],],ififssoommee ssmmaallll ffaarrmmeerrss iinn aa village have successfully specialized, the neighboring households within the village are likely to be influenced by these early adopters of specialization. This pattern of diffusion of specialization is likely. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2994 village have successfully specialized, the neighboring households within the village are likely to be influenced by these early adopters of specialization This pattern of diffusion of specialization is likely to show distance decay and neighborhood effects.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
