Author Description

This book investigates dynamics of Chinese rural households' poverty and well-being over the period 1989-2011. Despite continuous income and consumption increases, households become more vulnerable due to rising inequality and uncertainties attached to their income and consumption flows. More equal distribution of income/consumption, education, infrastructure and off-farm employment opportunities appear to help reducing households' welfare loss. China is facing huge challenges in raising wellbeing beyond monetary terms if the government aims to fulfill its goals of eleminating extreme poverty and building up a "well-off society" by 2020.