The Impact of Transformation of Farmers’ Livelihood on the Increasing Labor Costs of Grain Plantation in China

Xilong Jiang, Guanyi Yin, Yi Lou, Shuai Xie and Wei Wei
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Xilong Jiang: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100194, China
Guanyi Yin: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250000, China
Yi Lou: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250000, China
Shuai Xie: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250000, China
Wei Wei: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250000, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Analyzing the recessive impacts of farmers’ livelihood transformation on the surging labor cost in grain production is conducive to finding optimization paths for grain production. This study developed the Residual Livelihood Ratio (RLR) and the Livelihood Simpson Index (LSI) to measure the transformation of farmers’ livelihood in China, and applied the multiple regression model to explore the influence of the transformation of farmers’ livelihood on the labor cost of grain production. The results show that because of the soaring increment in labor cost, the net profit of rice, wheat, and maize production decreased largely in China. The LSI increased, while the RLR decreased, which indicated that farmers’ livelihoods transitioned towards a more unbalanced income–expenditure but more flexible employment. The Residual Livelihood Ratio; the mechanization input; the grain yield per unit area; the non-grain plantation degree; and the non-agricultural land use degree showed negative impacts on labor cost in grain production, whereas the Livelihood Simpson Index and Engel’s coefficient of farmers showed positive impacts on the labor cost. This paper proposes targeted policy implications for labor cost control of the grain production in China.

Keywords: labor cost; grain production; farmers’ livelihood transformation; impact analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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