The Impact and Challenges of Poverty Alleviation Strategies on Wealth Gap Between Urban and Rural: Take Guizhou Province as An Example

Abstract

Over the past 40 years since the initiation of reform and opening-up in China, both urban and rural economies have experienced rapid growth, leading to a significant improvement in the production levels and living standards of the people. However, it is equally important to recognize that the income gap between urban and rural residents has been continuously widening, particularly pronounced in economically less developed regions. Therefore, in order to mitigate the various economic and social challenges brought about by severe income inequality, the central and local governments are working collaboratively to optimize income disparity through poverty alleviation policies. This paper will take Guizhou Province, a chronically impoverished province in western China, as an example to explore the historical evolution of various poverty alleviation policies, the actual benefits in terms of income inequality reduction, relevant challenges and shortcomings, as well as potential lessons that can be drawn from this experience.