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Agricultural labor changes and agricultural economic development in China and their implications for rural vitalization

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Abstract

Based on panel data from 1991, 2000 and 2010 at the county level in China, this study analyzed the coupling characteristics and spatio-temporal patterns of agricultural labor changes and economic development under rapid urbanization using quantitative and GIS spatial analysis methods. Three primary conclusions were obtained. (1) During 1991–2010, China’s agricultural labor at the county level showed a decreasing trend, down 4.91% from 1991 to 2000 and 15.50% from 2000 to 2010. In spatial distribution, agricultural labor force has evolved by decreasing eastward and increasing westward. (2) During 1991–2010, China’s agricultural economy at the county level showed a sustained growth trend, with a total increase of 140.13%, but with clear regional differences. The proportion of agricultural output in national GDP gradually decreased, characterized by decreases in eastern China and increases in western China. (3) The coupling types of economic-labor elasticity coefficient are mainly growth in northwest China, for both the agricultural economy and labor, and are intensive in southeast China, with growth of the agricultural economy and reduction of agricultural labor. Regions with lagged, fading, and declining coupling types are generally coincident with the high incidence of poverty in China. However, different coupling types had a positive developing trend for 1991–2010. Finally, based on the coupling types and spatial distribution characteristics of economic-labor elasticity coefficients, some policy suggestions are proposed to promote the integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries and the vitalization of rural economies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing, 100101, China

    Li Ma, Hualou Long, Yingnan Zhang, Shuangshuang Tu & Xiaosong Tu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Li Ma & Yingnan Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Resources Use in Beibu Gulf, the Ministry of Education, Guangxi Teachers Education University, Nanning, 530001, China

    Shuangshuang Tu

  4. College of Rural Vitalization, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    Dazhuan Ge

  5. School of Tourism & Urban Management, Jiangxi University of Finance & Economics, Nanchang, 330013, China

    Xiaosong Tu

Authors
  1. Li Ma
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  2. Hualou Long
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  3. Yingnan Zhang
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  4. Shuangshuang Tu
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  5. Dazhuan Ge
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  6. Xiaosong Tu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hualou Long or Xiaosong Tu.

Additional information

Foundation: Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41731286; The Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China, No.2018M630197

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Ma, L., Long, H., Zhang, Y. et al. Agricultural labor changes and agricultural economic development in China and their implications for rural vitalization. J. Geogr. Sci. 29, 163–179 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-019-1590-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-019-1590-5

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