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Agricultural and rural development in China during the past four decades: an introduction

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  • Huang, Jikun
  • Rozelle, Scott
  • Zhu, Xinkai
  • Zhao, Shiji
  • Sheng, Yu

Abstract

The past four decades have witnessed unprecedented economic growth and rapidly rising food demand in China. This paper provides an introduction to readers with useful information summarising the development of China’s agricultural sector and the transformation of its rural economy over the 40 years of economic reform. It is, however, impossible to cover all aspects of this recent and rich history in a single journal special issue. Nevertheless, we are of the view that these papers address the most fundamentally important and insightful topics including: land reform and rural development; technology progress and productivity growth; changing food consumption patterns; rural education and human capital accumulation; and poverty alleviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Jikun & Rozelle, Scott & Zhu, Xinkai & Zhao, Shiji & Sheng, Yu, . "Agricultural and rural development in China during the past four decades: an introduction," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(01).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aareaj:333892
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.333892
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Heer Wang, 2025. "Agricultural productivity fluctuations and structural transformation—Evidence from rural China," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(2), pages 801-822, May.
    3. Deshuo Zhang & Qingning Lin & Shiping Mao, 2024. "Addressing Rural Decline: China’s Practices in Rural Transformation and Farmers’ Income Growth," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Xiaohong Zhuang & Zhuyuan Li & Run Zheng & Sanggyun Na & Yulin Zhou, 2021. "Research on the Efficiency and Improvement of Rural Development in China: Based on Two-Stage Network SBM Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-21, March.
    5. Zou, Baoling & Mishra, Ashok K., 2024. "Modernizing Smallholder Agriculture and Achieving Food Security: An Exploration in Machinery Services and Labor Reallocation in China," IZA Discussion Papers 17008, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Zhang, Yue-Jun & Liu, Jing-Yue & Woodward, Richard T., 2023. "Has Chinese Certified Emission Reduction trading reduced rural poverty in China?," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 67(03), April.
    7. Nan Chen, 2025. "The Impact of Agricultural Green Development on Farmers’ Income Quality in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-50, September.
    8. Mallawaarachchi, Thilak & Rahut, Dil Bahadur, 2023. "Realising rural economic transformation: Pathways to inclusive and sustainable prosperity in post-COVID-19 Asia," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 1076-1082.
    9. Zexiao Sun & Zhonghan Wang, 2025. "Written or oral? The impact of social network relationships on land transfer contract choices: Evidence from the latest survey data in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Zhilu Sun & Xiande Li, 2021. "Technical Efficiency of Chemical Fertilizer Use and Its Influencing Factors in China’s Rice Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, January.
    11. Jin, Shaoze & Min, Shi & Huang, Jikun & Waibel, Hermann, 2021. "Falling price induced diversification strategies and rural inequality: Evidence of smallholder rubber farmers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    12. Qi Wen & Caiting Shen & Siyou Xia & Yongsheng Wang, 2022. "Analysis of spatiotemporal variations and effects of regional functions in rural China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 1414-1435, September.
    13. Yan Wang & He Wang & Bo Wen & Luxin Zhang, 2024. "Influences of Farmland Transfer Transaction Costs on Contract Choices from the Perspective of Differential Order Governance: Based on a Survey of Farmers in Henan Province," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, May.
    14. Cheng, Qingyue & Li, Liangyu & Liao, Qin & Fu, Hao & Nie, Jiangxia & Luo, Yongheng & Wang, Zhonglin & Yin, Huilai & Shu, Chuanhai & Chen, Zongkui & Sun, Yongjian & Ma, Jun & Li, Na & Yang, Zhiyuan, 2023. "Is scale production more advantageous than smallholders for Chinese rice production?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    15. Zhenhua Hu & Shanshan Jin & Ziyue Hu & Degen Lin, 2022. "Research on Attention Allocation of Land Policy System Reform: A Comparative Analysis Based on Central No. 1 Documents of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, November.
    16. Yuanzhi Guo & Jieyong Wang, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Changes of Chemical Fertilizer Application and Its Environmental Risks in China from 2000 to 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.

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