Work

How Land Inflow Affects Rural Household Development Resilience—Empirical Evidence from Eight Western Counties in China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Rural areas exhibit a high prevalence of poverty. As significant progress in poverty reduction has been achieved, research on rural livelihoods has transitioned from a focus on poverty eradication to preventing poverty recurrence and fostering development. Development resilience, which has emerged as a pivotal research area in poverty governance, is a crucial metric for assessing rural households’ long-term capacity to avoid falling back into poverty, considering the multi-dimensional aspects of poverty and welfare dynamics. Utilizing data from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, this study investigates the impact of land inflow on rural household’s development resilience (RHDR). Findings reveal that land inflow significantly enhances RHDR, a conclusion that holds after extensive robustness checks. Mechanism analysis shows that while land inflow initially imposes a financial burden, it eventually acts as an exogenous driver and causes labor force return and economies of scale, boosting RHDR over time. This effect is more pronounced among non-vulnerable households, those with abundant water resources and strong collective awareness. Therefore, it is recommended to refine land inflow systems, reduce barriers to land resource flow, and implement targeted support for vulnerable groups during the initial stages of land inflow to effectively promote rural revitalization through land transfer.

Source: Land

DOI: 10.3390/land14061251

Authors: Sheng Lang, Yi Liang, Lingxue Huang, Haibo Zhu, Shihua Xiao

Institutions: Minzu University of China, Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Land Rights and Reforms

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Zero hunger, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137