Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy Research Articles

Evaluation of poverty-stricken families in rural areas using a novel case-based reasoning method for probabilistic linguistic term sets

Through specific efforts to eliminate poverty over several decades, a large number of poverty-stricken families in China have been lifted out of poverty although, in some rural areas, there still exist a large number of very poor people. In 2013, to realize the aim of eliminating poverty in the whole of China by 2020, a specific, targeted poverty alleviation policy was proposed. A suitable evaluation mechanism is vital to measure the effect of this important policy. Because there are intrinsic uncertainties related to the reliability of information about poverty-stricken families, we use linguistic term sets (LTS) to express experts’ opinions. Thus, aggregated information from all relevant experts can be described as probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTSs). We propose a novel case-based reasoning method to rank and cluster poverty-stricken families considering both the decision data and experts’ experiences. We first propose a new preference value function for PLTS considering the experts’ bounded rationality. Additionally, we propose a DEMATEL (decision making trial and evaluation laboratory) method for PLTSs to analyze relations of criteria and find key factors in the evaluation system. To illustrate our process, we apply our method to a real case of a village from Inner Mongolia. Based on this case study, we rank and cluster 21 poverty-stricken families, and present an analysis of the key factors that influence the evaluation system.

Poverty and Subjective Poverty in Rural China

China is undergoing a campaign which is called “The Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy” to eradicate extreme poverty from rural China until 2020. Though poverty in rural China has been studied intensively in different objective dimensions, little attention has been paid to poverty line settings and subjective poverty, which are hinged to the policy effects. In order to fill in the research gap, this study employs a nationally representative survey of rural households in 2016, to measure subjective poverty in rural China, and analyze the determinants as well. Our results indicate that the mean subjective poverty line of the rural households is 8297 yuan per capita, which is far higher than the national poverty line (2800 yuan). Statistically, 29% of the surveyed rural households who are not objectively poor feel subjectively poor. The objective poverty line cannot fully reflect the subjective poverty perception. Thus, how to reduce the subjective poverty perception could be a major policy agenda in rural China after 2020, when extreme poverty is no longer a problem.

The Study for Public Management Policy Utility Evaluation and Optimization System under the Framework of Social Computing Perspective

In recent years, in order to rationalize the allocation of social resources and optimize the implementation of public management policies, scholars have conducted in-depth researches on policy effectiveness. However, at present, most of the study is still at the level of using macrolevel qualitative analysis, and lack of quantitative analysis and evaluation system for the effectiveness of policy implementation. The goal of this article is to discuss the utility evaluation system of public management policy from the perspective of social computing. First, based on the data obtained through questionnaire survey, we obtain indicators of the survey data by using factor analysis, and a new BDI (belief–desire–intention) model is created based on the observation indicators, and then the simulation platform is constructed; then, a brand new quantitative analysis method for policy optimization is proposed by using modified logistic functions as a tool. As application, we conducted the case study for the “Targeted poverty alleviation policy in Yulin region” (Guangxi, China), in which the key indicators for the poverty were established, and then the policy optimization suggestions were given based on the results of simulation experiments. This case study has Chinese characteristics, which might be applied to the poverty alleviation work globally.

The Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation on Ruoguo Villagers’ Health Consciousness Based on Village Revitalization Work of School of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jinan University

RuoGuo village is one of the many poverty-stricken areas in China. In recent years, The School of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jinan University has actively implemented the party’s guidelines for poverty alleviation work, adopting various forms and methods to carry out poverty alleviation work in RuoGuo Village, which has achieved initial results. Through this survey, we can see the effectiveness of the JNU’s poverty alleviation work, and recognize the current situation of Zhuanguo Village so that the next poverty alleviation work can be more targeted. By summarizing the merits and shortcomings of Jinan University’s poverty alleviation work, We can improve working methods for the targeted poverty alleviation in Runguo Village, and accumulate the experience of targeted poverty alleviation, which is also a way to actively respond to the national targeted poverty alleviation policy. Besides, we can provide a certain reference value for the targeted poverty alleviation work in other regions.

Path Analysis of Rural Social Work Intervention in Precision Poverty Alleviation in Sichuan Province

The targeted poverty alleviation policy is one of the important methods to solve the problem of poverty in China. After the implementation of the targeted poverty alleviation policy in China, some results have shown positive. However, due to the shortage of resources and talents for poverty alleviation, there are still some shortcomings in the targeted poverty alleviation work. In the process of targeted poverty alleviation, if we can promote social work to participate in targeted poverty alleviation and use a wider range of social forces to provide more professional and targeted assistance work for the poor, we will achieve the final sprint for the success of targeted poverty alleviation in China and a well-off society. Based on the actual situation of China's current targeted poverty alleviation work, this article takes the relationship and content of rural social work in Sichuan Province as part of the targeted poverty alleviation as well as the difficulties it faces. The analysis focuses on the path of rural social work in Sichuan Province to targeted poverty alleviation and aims to provide more reference suggestions for targeted poverty alleviation in China.

How Does Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy Influence Residents’ Perceptions of Rural Living Conditions? A Study of 16 Villages in Gansu Province, Northwest China

Rural living conditions (RLCs) in China are influential on the overall development and stability of regions, particularly for populations in distant poverty-stricken villages. This paper takes 16 villages of Chedao town in Gansu province, Northwest China (NWC) as our case study. Using data from the Poverty Alleviation and Assistance (PAA) project launched by Lanzhou University in June 2017, and the perceptions of residents of Chedao, we pinpoint RLC changes in the targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) process. The three main results show that: (1) From the residents’ perceptions, the impact of alleviation measures on RLC is mainly reflected in improved housing conditions, infrastructure, and public services. We find no significant effect on cultural conditions. However, eco-environmental conditions have obviously weakened. (2) Housing size, accessibility, distance to shops, and safe drinking water are the most significant factors in housing conditions, infrastructure, public services, and eco-environmental conditions, respectively. (3) Out of the different levels of rural poverty households (RPHs), severe rurality villages are more strongly aware of the positive changes in RLC than residents of mild rurality villages. Moreover, in residents’ view, housing conditions are most improved in severe rurality villages, infrastructure is most improved in moderate rurality villages, and public services are most improved in mild rurality villages. Eco-environmental conditions worsen across all levels. Our findings shed light on the perceptions of residents on changes occurring in rural living conditions, and provide a basis for subsequent studies of RLC in Northwest China.

China’s poverty alleviation over the last 40 years: successes and challenges

Over the past 40 years, China has made significant progress towards its poverty alleviation goals. The rural population under the current poverty line has decreased by 739.9 million. China has contributed to more than 70 per cent of world poverty reduction. To better promote the new anti‐poverty strategy and to serve as a reference for poverty alleviation in other developing countries, this paper summarises the main experiences of China’s poverty alleviation over the past 40 years and then discusses the challenges associated with implementing the targeted poverty alleviation policy in the new era. China’s experience with poverty alleviation includes development‐oriented poverty alleviation, improving self‐development capabilities of the poor population, encouraging multiple subjects to participate in poverty alleviation and focusing on innovation and ways to improve poverty alleviation. Although China’s poverty alleviation initiatives have achieved significant successes, there are still several challenges that should be of concern in the coming years, such as the diminishing marginal effect of financial inputs on poverty alleviation, the resulting negative incentives for the poor to improve their internal motivations and the insufficient participation of markets and social forces in poverty alleviation. Given these challenges, this paper provides suggestions for anti‐poverty policies beyond 2020.

Analysis on the Current Situation of Implementing the Policy of Precise Poverty Alleviation in Hainan Province—From the Perspective Based on Target Groups

Since 2016, Hainan has promoted the supply-side structural reform of tourism through the overall planning of global tourism, and vigorously promoted the "tourism + poverty alleviation" model. However, whether it has reached its expectation remains doubts. Thus, this paper utilize the method of questionnaire, frequency description statistics, chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis to analyze the implementation status of Hainan tourism targeted poverty alleviation policy.

Impact of Information Access on Poverty Alleviation Effectiveness: Evidence From China

In studying China's targeted poverty alleviation policy, this paper models the interaction between local governments and poor households with an evolutionary game. The model predicts that bolstering information access of rural residents can significantly improve the effectiveness of poverty alleviation. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) for 2015, we test this prediction by employing Internet use, TV-viewing and radio-listening as proxy variables of information access. OLS and probit regressions show significant positive effects of targeted people's information access on various measures of poverty alleviation success. Estimations through propensity score matching (PSM) yield similar results. The findings highlight the importance of information access in global poverty alleviation efforts.

Analysis of China’s policy effect on poverty alleviation: evidence from Chongqing in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

With the continuous socio-economic development, the Chinese government has readjusted its poverty alleviation and development strategies, and established the targeted poverty alleviation policies in an attempt to holistically build a well-off society. Based on the panel data of nine national poverty-stricken counties (districts) in Chongqing in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region from 1998 to 2015, this paper quantitatively analyzed the effect of the national poverty alleviation policies in the context of targeted poverty alleviation by adopting the methodologies of a break-point regression and a panel regression. The results show that: (1) The national policy for targeted poverty alleviation has a significant effect on poverty reduction, and this effect has manifested since the beginning of its implementation, i.e. the net income of farmers in 2012 increased by 12.41%, as against that during 2010–2011. The per capita net income of farmers has increased by 33.64% from 2011 to 2015 during the implementation period of the targeted poverty alleviation policy, as against that during 1998–2010. The policy effect during 2011–2015 is also evident, for the net income of farmers increased by 21.23% compared with that from the beginning of the policy implementation in 2012; (2) Economic activity of the market and gross value of agricultural product in the poverty-stricken areas have significantly increased farmers’ net income, specifically, for every 1% increase in the degree of market economic activity, farmers’ net income will increase by 48.74%; Furthermore, for every 1% increase in gross value of agricultural product, the farmers’ net income will increase by 3.7%. Finally, this paper proposed corresponding policy recommendations based on these findings.

Poverty alleviation in rural China: policy changes, future challenges and policy implications

PurposePoverty alleviation is a global challenge. Human society has never ceased to fight against poverty. China was once the developing country with the largest rural poor population in the world. Remarkable achievements have been made in China’s antipoverty program over the past decades, shaping a unique poverty reduction strategy with Chinese characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to first review the history of China’s rural reform and antipoverty, and then analyze the related policy systems, mechanism innovations and future challenges in poverty alleviation and development. At last, some specific policy implications were provided.Design/methodology/approachLiterature on China’s antipoverty history was reviewed and mechanism innovations on targeted poverty alleviation strategy were investigated.FindingsAlong with the deepening of the rural reform, the poverty alleviation and development in new China have undergone six stages, and experienced a transformation from relief-oriented to development-oriented poverty alleviation. The object of poverty alleviation has gradually targeted with a transformation from poor counties/areas to villages/households, and the effectiveness of poverty alleviation is also gradually improved. However, the increase in the difficulty of antipoverty, fragile ecological environment, rapid population aging and rural decline poses challenges to the construction of a well-off society in an all-round way in China. Specific antipoverty measures were put forward based on the investigation. Finally, the authors emphasize the importance of strengthening the study of poverty geography.Originality/valueThis study investigates the history of China’s antipoverty policy and analyzes the future challenges for implementing targeted poverty alleviation policy. These findings will lay a foundation for the formulation of China’s antipoverty policies after 2020, and provide experience for poverty alleviation in other developing countries around the world.

Realizing targeted poverty alleviation in China

Purpose The Chinese Government initiates the targeted poverty alleviation strategy to lift 70.17 million population out of poverty in five years time until 2020. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the targeted poverty alleviation policy was implemented. The investigation focusses on the people’s voices, implementation challenges and implications for policy making and improvement. Design/methodology/approach A nationwide survey covering 2,075 households in 22 impoverished counties of 13 provinces was carried out in August, 2015, providing rich statistics and evidence for the paper. Literature review of China’s poverty alleviation history is also made to lay a research basis for the study. Findings There are diverse needs of the impoverished households of different ages and different poverty causes. The defects of the policy are revealed such as the impractical way of accurate poverty identification, the existence of poverty-returning problem and passive poverty alleviation. Originality/value The study of the paper investigates the current challenges for carrying out the targeted poverty alleviation and indicates implications for policy improvement. These contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the targeted poverty alleviation policy in China.