IFAD Research Series No. 90: Rural Transformation, Income Growth and Poverty Reduction by Province in China in the Past Four Decades

China has experienced rapid rural transformation in the past four decades, accompanied by a rise in rural household income and a fall in rural poverty. This paper examines provincial rural transformation and its major outcomes.

The results show that all provinces have undergone significant rural transformation, but the level and speed of transformation differs considerably among provinces. Additionally, a higher level of transformation is often positively associated with a higher level of per capital income and a lower level of poverty incidence. The paper also discusses likely impacts of institutions, policies and investments on rural transformation, and includes policy implications.