The impact of rural land consolidation on household poverty alleviation: The moderating effects of human capital endowment

Abstract

Eradicating poverty is the primary goal for pursuing equitable and sustainable development of the world. Rural land consolidation (RLC) aims to achieve efficient and sustainable land use while promoting poverty alleviation. This study empirically examined the impact of RLC on multi-dimensional poverty, using the difference-in-differences (DID) method and survey data from impoverished households. Additionally, the role of human capital in moderating the impact of RLC on poverty alleviation is also emphasised. We found that (1) The RLC has had a positive and significant impact on the improvement of impoverished households’ livelihoods in China. (2) Human capital (migrant worker, labour force, and education) has a positive moderating effect on the impact of RLC on poverty alleviation, and education exerts the most obvious moderating effect. We suggest that the Chinese government should not only continue to increase investment in and provide supporting policy for RLC, but also develop targeted RLC strategies. Education, labour capability, sustainable poverty reduction, sustainable land use, and sustainable rural development require sustained attention. It also could help to improve policy and decision-making for effective poverty reduction, sustainable rural development, and rural revitalisation.