| Author | Li, Liang |
| Call Number | AIT RSPR no.RD-07-01 |
| Subject(s) | Land reform--China
|
| Note | A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Land policy reforms impact on poor households in rural China was studied using field survey, two case studies supported with secondary data including previous scholars' research findings and outputs and literature reviews. The results demonstrated that China has launched a series of land policy reforms to improve land-use efficiency, to rationalize land allocation, to enhance land management, and to coordinate urban and rural development. These land policy reforms have yielded positive impacts on rural land use as well as negative socioeconomic consequences. The household responsibility system has proved a great success. There is no doubt that the system generates incentives for production by giving farmers freedom of land use rights and decision-making, linking rewards closely with their performance. As a result, China's agriculture has been dramatically revived. Although the household responsibility system was a great success, as an institutional innovation it could not address everything. Several years of practice have exposed a number of limitations and weaknesses inherent in the system which could affect the livelihood of poor population in rural China. The major negative impact is failure to fully address the needs and rights of the poor people, egalitarian seems to be the confusion between the ownership and the use rights of land resource and lack of clear guidelines defining the economic relations between the central government, the local government and various economic entities; and the inefficient allocation and use of natural resources resulted in unsuccessful implementation of the policies. The study also showed that although China has experienced rapid economic growth in the past 25 years, land degradation is serious and appears to be worsening. Population, urbanization and inappropriate institutional arrangements will continue to be the main causes of land degradation in China. The study recommended decentralization and farmers participation in decision making process; capacity building and harmonization of policies, clear guidelines defining the economic relations between the central government, the local government and various economic entities; and adopt experience of other countries consolidating and harmonizing with the social, economic and political situations of China. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Research Study Project Report (RSPR) |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, Jayant K. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thapa, Gopal B. ;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Research Studies Project Report (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |