Machinery investment decision and off-farm employment in rural China

This paper investigates the linkages between farmers' machinery investment decision and off-farm employment in China. Both the theoretical model and the empirical results based on a survey of 453 households in Anhui Province indicate that agricultural labor input and small-size machinery investment are gross complements rahter tha substitutes when machinery service is available in the market. Consequently, farmers with small machinery are more likely to reduce their off-time employment time. --Small-size Machinery,Off-Farm employment,Complements,China

Stage-specific, Nonlinear Surface Ozone Damage to Rice Production in China.

China is one of the most heavily polluted nations and is also the largest agricultural producer. There are relatively few studies measuring the effects of pollution on crop yields in China, and most are based on experiments or simulation methods. We use observational data to study the impact of increased air pollution (surface ozone) on rice yields in Southeast China. We examine nonlinearities in the relationship between rice yields and ozone concentrations and find that an additional day with a maximum ozone concentration greater than 120 ppb is associated with a yield loss of 1.12% ± 0.83% relative to a day with maximum ozone concentration less than 60 ppb. We find that increases in mean ozone concentrations, SUM60, and AOT40 during panicle formation are associated with statistically significant yield losses, whereas such increases before and after panicle formation are not. We conclude that heightened surface ozone levels will potentially lead to reductions in rice yields that are large enough to have implications for the global rice market

Machinery investment decision and off-farm employment in rural China

This paper investigates the linkages between farmers' machinery investment decision and off-farm employment in China. Both the theoretical model and the empirical results based on a survey of 453 households in Anhui Province indicate that agricultural labor input and small-size machinery investment are gross complements rahter tha substitutes when machinery service is available in the market. Consequently, farmers with small machinery are more likely to reduce their off-time employment time

Asymmetric property rights in China's economic growth:

"This paper highlights the difference between secure investor property rights and loosely defined individual property rights. Globalization and fiscal decentralization have intensified this difference. On the one hand, in the presence of mobile foreign direct investments and under the arrangement of fiscal decentralization, local governments compete vigorously to offer various protections on the property rights of investors; on the other hand, local governments and developers attempt to acquire land at as low price as possible by taking advantage of the loopholes inherent in the Chinese law. Secure investor property rights together with weak protections on individuals' land property rights is argued to be one of the major drivers of China's rapid economic growth. But the same factor can veer those individuals being deprived of land into violence and social unrest, which may undermine China's social stability and long-term sustainable growth." from Authors' AbstractProperty rights, Investments, economic growth, China, individual land property, Fiscal policies, Decentralization,

Tort liability for infringements on the right of reputation under Chinese law : a review of selected court cases

This paper was first published in Jusletter of June 27, 2016 (http://jusletter.weblaw.ch/juslissues/2016/852/tort-liability-for-i_8f87f5e1cb.html__ONCE) and was slightly modified for the publication in the Fajus Research Paper Series on Chinese and East Asian Law.Having and giving "face" has always been important in Chinese society. It is not surprising, therefore, that the right of reputation has found its place in the legislation of the PRC when laws were re-introduced in the 1980ies. While the legal provisions seem pretty straightforward, court cases show that the Chinese legal system and Chinese society are very much different from their counterparts in the West."Das Gesicht wahren" ist in der chinesischen Gesellschaft sehr bedeutend. Es ist denn auch nicht weiter verwunderlich, dass dem Ehrenschutz ein Platz in der Gesetzgebung eingeräumt wurde, als diese ab 1980 in der Volksrepublik China wieder eingeführt wurde. Auch wenn die Gesetzesbestimmungen auf den ersten Blick recht klar erscheinen, zeigt eine Analyse der Rechtsprechung, dass das chinesische Rechtssystem und die chinesische Gesellschaft doch ganz anders sind als in der westlichen Hemisphäre

Restoration of micro data of John Lossing Buck's survey and analysis of the inverse relationship between yield and farm size in rural China in the 1930's

A large scale Chinese agricultural survey was conducted at the direction of John Lossing Buck from 1929 through 1933. At the end of the 1990’s, some parts of the original micro data of Buck’s survey were discovered at Nanjing Agricultural University. An international joint study was begun to restore micro data of Buck’s survey and construct parts of the micro database on both the crop yield survey and special expenditure survey. This paper includes a summary of the characteristics of farmlands and cropping patterns in crop yield micro data that covered 2,102 farmers in 20 counties of 9 provinces. In order to test the classical hypothesis of whether or not an inverse relationship between land productivity and cultivated area may be observed in developing countries, a Box-Cox transformation test was conducted for functional forms on five main crops of Buck’s crop yield survey. The result of the test shows that the relationship between land productivity and cultivated areas of wheat and barley is linear and somewhat negative; those of rice, rapeseed, and seed cotton appear to be slightly positive. It can be tentatively concluded that the relationship between cultivated area and land productivity are not the same among crops, and the difference of labor intensity and the level of commercialization of each crop may be strongly related to the existence or non-existence of inverse relationships.China, Rural survey, Farm management, Farm survey, Crop yield

Historical Development and Literacy Transmission of the Poya Songbook

The Poya Songbook, an integral part of Zhuang traditional culture, embodies rich music and folklore passed down through generations. This study aims to examine the historical development and literacy transmission of the Poya Songbook for education and literacy studies in Funing County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Drawing upon a combination of ethnographic methods and semiotic analysis, the research delves into the intricate journey of the Poya Songbook, contrasting its state before and after the pivotal year 2006, when it received official recognition as an intangible cultural heritage. Three key informants, deeply rooted in the local cultural milieu, provide valuable insights into the songbook’s transformation, its role in education, and the challenges of preserving its authenticity amidst modern influences. The data analysis discerns shifts in transmission methods, content, and performance, shedding light on the evolving relationship between tradition and cultural identity. The findings underscore the importance of balancing preservation with adaptation to ensure the continued vitality of this cherished cultural heritage. Suggestions for the sustained safeguarding of the Poya Songbook include innovative educational initiatives that integrate its teachings into contemporary curricula, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Zhuang cultural identity

Taxonomy of Camptotheca Decaisne

Based on the phenotypic, micromorphological, and genetic analysis, three species are recognized in the genus Camptotheca Decaisne: C. acuminata Decaisne, C. lowreyana Li, and C. yunnanensis Dode. Camptotheca acuminata consists of three varieties: var. acuminata, var. tenuifolia Fang et Soong, and var. rotundifolia Yang et Duan. Camptotheca lowreyana has three newly developed high CPT-yielding cultivars, namely ‘Katie’, ‘CT168’, and ‘Hicksii

European Arctic Initiatives Compendium

Julkaistu versi