Impact of government assistance on the relative deprivation of poor households’ consumption: Policy evaluation based on the targeted poverty alleviation program

[Objective] The targeted poverty alleviation program has, overall, elevated the social welfare of impoverished households. However, the role of the targeted poverty alleviation program plays in improving households’ relative welfare, such as relative deprivation of consumption, remains a subject for discussion. The answer to this question carries significant implications for improving the quality and efficiency of government assistance policies. [Methods] Based on the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) data from 2013 to 2019, this study calculated the relative deprivation of household consumption using the Kakwani index for the surveyed households residing in a city (or province). Then, using the difference-in-differences method, this study examined the impact of the targeted poverty alleviation program on the relative consumption deprivation of poor households. Finally, employing heterogeneity analysis of the causes of poverty, as well as consumption categorization and an interactive model of poverty alleviation styles, this study tested the effect of the government targeted poverty alleviation program on the relative deprivation of household consumptions. [Results] The targeted poverty alleviation program has generally reduced the relative deprivation of consumption for impoverished households, albeit having a relatively weak economic effect. This result remains valid even after a series of placebo-tests and regressing on a matched sample set. Further classification and scrutiny of the consumption types, poverty alleviation styles, and causes of poverty revealed that poverty-stricken households experienced a significant reduction in relative deprivation of consumption in the healthcare expenditure and education expenditure. This is because the welfare type poverty alleviation policies such as medical support, housing and living assistance, and children’s education support significantly enhanced the consumption welfare of poor households. However, no statistically significant effect was found in other development assistance type poverty alleviation policies. [Conclusion] The impact of the targeted poverty alleviation program on household relative consumption deprivation was generally weak, and was concentrated in protection-oriented poverty alleviation policies, such as medical support and educational assistance. In the future, government assistance needs to enhance efficiency and optimization in development-oriented policies

The complete chloroplast genome sequences of Cornus elliptica (Cornaceae)

Cornus elliptica is a species of the Cornus, an evergreen tree endemic to China. Here, we report a complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. elliptica. The chloroplast genome was found to be 157,400bp in length, and G-C contents were 38.1%. The sequence contained 115 unique genes, including 31 tRNA, 4 rRNA, and 80 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic framework of Cornus is consistent with previous studies

Why Is the Income Effect of Farmland Transfer Inconsistent between Transferred-Out and Transferred-In Households?

Based on the 2013–2017 Chinese Family Database and China Household Finance Survey, this study examines the effect of farmland transfer on the income structure of agricultural households. We observe a significant rise in the income of transferred-out households, while that of transferred-in households is unchanged. A further empirical decomposition of income shows a significant increase in both the wage- and asset-generated incomes of transferred-out households. Although the income generated by transferred-in households through agricultural production and management increases significantly, the decrease in wage income is larger. The study’s empirical designs are robustly tested with propensity score matching and instrumental variables. Moreover, we conduct a comparative analysis of the external constraints faced by the two groups to explore the reasons for the divergence of the income effect. The results show that transferred-in households face highly pronounced external constraints in terms of capital, technology, and farmland size, while transferred-out households face relatively fewer impediments to non-agricultural employment. Our empirical results imply that external constraints can limit the social welfare improvements of agricultural land reform, suggesting that other complementary measures would be required for future policy improvements to function better

Spatial-temporal patterns of human-wildlife conflicts under coupled impact of natural and anthropogenic factors in Mt. Gaoligong, western Yunnan, China

Human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) are major conservation concerns that threaten both wildlife and rural livelihoods, and can vary spatially and temporally in diverse environments. A better understanding of HWC enhances mitigation strategies and promotes human-wildlife coexistence. We gathered HWC incidents from 2012 to 2021 in Longyang District, Yunnan Province, China, to assess their spatial-temporal patterns and determinants. We found that HWC were distributed unevenly, with more occurring near the protected area and away from densely populated areas. Poisson regression indicated that forests and croplands were the key factors influencing the spatial patterns of HWC for Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), but shrubs for rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Furthermore, the HWC occurrences fluctuated across time, peaking in August-October. These conflicts intensified between 2012 and 2021, mainly involving wild boars (Sus scrofa) and rhesus monkeys, while HWC involving Asiatic black bears declined slightly. We suggest a multi-faceted strategy with compensation, prevention, and conservation awareness to mitigate HWC in this region

Potential habitat corridors and restoration areas for the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti in Yunnan, China

International audienceThe black-and-white snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti is endemic to China, where its population is fragmented into 15 isolated groups and threatened despite efforts to protect the species.Herewe analyse possible habitat connectivity between the groups reported in Yunnan, using genetic, least-cost path and Euclidean distances. We detect genetic isolation between the northern and southern groups but not among the northern groups. We show that genetic distance is better explained by human disturbance and land-cover least-cost paths than by Euclidian distance. High-quality habitats were found to be more fragmented in the southern part of the study area and interspersed with human-influenced areas unsuitable for black-andwhite snub-nosed monkeys, which may explain the genetic isolation of the southern groups. Potential corridors are identified based on the least-cost path analysis, and seven sensitive areas are proposed for restoration. We recommend (1) that restoration is focused on the current range of the monkeys, with efforts to reduce human disturbance and human population pressure and increase public awareness, and (2) the development of a long-term plan for habitat restoration and corridor design in the areas between groups