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The impact of Chinese government promoted homestead transfer on labor migration and household's well-being: A study in three rural areas

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  • Zhang, Yongchao
  • Torre, André
  • Ehrlich, Marianne

Abstract

The rural homestead transfers (RHT) promoted by the Chinese government in the recent years have resulted in major economic and landscape changes in the countryside and profound impacts on the households’ well-beings. Our paper aims to explain the complex relation between RHT, labor migration and households’ well-beings, based on a survey about three pilot rural areas (Changyuan, Yiwu and Wujin, in the Henan, Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces). The results found that the transfer has directly influenced the farmers’ income status, and indirectly through labors’ migration. RHT had a positive impact on their residential environment, and poorly improved their social security. It has improved the living standard of the households, positively influenced the farmers’ psychological state, and had very limited influence on their political participation and freedom.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yongchao & Torre, André & Ehrlich, Marianne, 2023. "The impact of Chinese government promoted homestead transfer on labor migration and household's well-being: A study in three rural areas," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:86:y:2023:i:c:s1049007823000362
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2023.101616
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    Cited by:

    1. Yanqi Xie & Shuifa Ke & Xiaojing Li, 2023. "Psychological Resilience and Farmers’ Homestead Withdrawal: Evidence from Traditional Agricultural Regions in China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rural homestead transfer (RHT); Labors’ migration; Well-being; Yiwu; Wujin; Changyuan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J48 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Particular Labor Markets; Public Policy
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment

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