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Analysis on the Effect of the Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy on Narrowing the Urban-Rural Income Gap: An Empirical Test Based on 124 Counties in Yunnan Province

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  • Renyi Yang

    (School of Economics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
    Institute of Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Development, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

  • Changbiao Zhong

    (School of Economics, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

  • Zisheng Yang

    (Institute of Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Development, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

  • Qiuju Wu

    (Institute of Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Development, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China)

Abstract

China’s targeted poverty-alleviation policy has eliminated absolute poverty and become the focus of world attention. However, a relative-poverty problem still exists in China, and the large urban–rural income gap is an important issue. Whether the implementation of the targeted poverty-alleviation policy has narrowed the urban–rural income gap, along with its specific effects, requires an accurate analysis, which is particularly critical in order for China to implement a rural-revitalization strategy and further eliminate relative poverty in the future. Given the problems and shortcomings of the existing studies, such as not passing the parallel trend test to overestimate the policy effect, in this study we refer to the previous results, and our analyses divide the 124 counties in Yunnan province into four categories: non-poverty counties and counties with grade-I, grade-II, and grade-III poverty. We selected the panel data of the urban–rural income ratio of each county along with eight influencing factors from 2011 to 2020 for difference-in-difference model (DID) analysis. In this study, we compare the four types of counties level-by-level, and we construct a full-sample spatial DID model. The estimated results, after excluding the impact of COVID-2019, are significant. In addition, we perform robustness and placebo tests and other work on the DID model. All of the results show that the implementation of the targeted poverty-alleviation policy has effectively reduced the urban–rural income ratio in areas experiencing poverty. Finally, we use the intermediary effect analysis method to explore the reasons for the findings: driven by the targeted poverty-alleviation policy, the financial investment in poor areas has substantially increased, further increasing the income level of rural residents in poor areas and thus promoting a notable reduction in the income gap between urban and rural residents in poor areas. We suggest that, although China has achieved comprehensive success in targeted poverty-alleviation, assistance investment still needs to be increased, policies must be adjusted, and income growth must be accelerated to achieve industrial prosperity.

Suggested Citation

  • Renyi Yang & Changbiao Zhong & Zisheng Yang & Qiuju Wu, 2022. "Analysis on the Effect of the Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy on Narrowing the Urban-Rural Income Gap: An Empirical Test Based on 124 Counties in Yunnan Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12560-:d:932065
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    2. Renyi Yang & Qiuju Wu & Zisheng Yang & Shiqin Yang, 2022. "Study on Spatio-Temporal Changes of Land Use Sustainability in Southwestern Border Mountainous Provinces in Recent 20 Years Based on Remote Sensing Interpretation: A Case Study in Yunnan Province, Chi," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-29, November.
    3. Ren, Yi-Shuai & Kuang, Xianhua & Klein, Tony, 2024. "Does the urban–rural income gap matter for rural energy poverty?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    4. Renyi Yang & Changbiao Zhong, 2022. "Land Suitability Evaluation of Sorghum Planting in Luquan County of Jinsha River Dry and Hot Valley Based on the Perspective of Sustainable Development of Characteristic Poverty Alleviation Industry," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, November.
    5. Li, Xitong & He, Peiming & Liao, Honglin & Liu, Jindan & Chen, Litai, 2024. "Does network infrastructure construction reduce urban–rural income inequality? Based on the “Broadband China” policy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    6. Shiqin Yang & Zisheng Yang & Renyi Yang & Xueli Cai, 2023. "Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution, Influencing Factors, and Spillover Effects of the Urban–Rural Income Gap in Chongqing Municipality, China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, April.
    7. Xuechao Li & Yaxuan Luo & Huijuan Wang, 2023. "Effects of Targeted Poverty Alleviation on the Sustainable Livelihood of Poor Farmers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, April.

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