Spatial-Temporal Relationship between Water Resources and Economic Development in Rural China from a Poverty Perspective

Zhaorunqing Liu and Wenxin Liu
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Zhaorunqing Liu: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China
Wenxin Liu: College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, Taicheng Road, Yangling 712100, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: Guaranteeing sustainable development is a pressing issue in China. To this end, balancing economic development and the protection of limited water resources enables healthy and orderly economic development. This study details the application of a water poverty index and sustainable livelihoods approach using 25 indicators to evaluate the water situation and the economic situation in rural China from 1997 to 2019. The analysis results suggest the need for location-specific policy interventions. In addition, we determined whether the water poverty and economic poverty or their spatial types featured the phenomenon of agglomeration. This study also proposes a harmonious development (HD) model and found a significant relationship between water poverty and economic poverty. Next, we adopted a spatial and temporal perspective to analyze the causes of variation in HD level using the modified Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) model and defined four HD levels using a classification method. The results revealed that the overall HD level was higher in the east than in the west. In conclusion, water poverty is associated with economic poverty; thus, there is a need for water and economic assistance strategies in pro-poor policies. The research findings also serve as a theoretical foundation for policies aimed at resolving conflicts between water use and economic development in rural China.

Keywords: water–economic poverty; harmonious development model; OECD model; integrated weight; spatial-temporal analysis; water–economic management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (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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