Journal of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics ›› 2019 ›› Issue (06): 92-101.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Understanding ‘the Poor's Mind’: An Empirical Study on Risk Attitudes of Poor Farmers with the Evidence from a Field Experiment in Rural Minority Villages in Western China

LAI Yue1, LIU Yi-yi2   

  1. 1. Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545006, China;
    2. National Economy Research Institute at Gui'an, Guiyang, Guizhou 550025 China
  • Received:2019-05-23 Online:2019-11-15 Published:2019-11-28

Abstract: Using the method of field experiments, this paper interprets the "thinking of the poor" from the influencing factors of risk attitude of poor farmers. Sample survey and experiment in Guangxi and Guizhou, two minority nationality villages (towns) found that poor peasants generally hate risk, especially when faced with possible losses, the degree of risk aversion increased significantly, but some risk preferences were more risk-averse when faced with possible losses; the more risk-averse peasants got risk-averse, the more risk-averse peasants got risk-aversion. The lower the experimental returns, the higher the experimental returns of the risk-preferent; the higher the educational level of spouses and mothers, the lower the risk aversion of the poor peasants; the heavier the educational burden the family bears, the higher the risk aversion of the poor peasants. The development and implementation of poverty alleviation policies should take into account the risk attitude of poor peasants, improve diversified financial support for risk preferences and low-interest financial support for risk averse, so as to cover a wider group of poor peasants. In the long run, poverty alleviation through education should be a sustained and key poverty alleviation policy. Reducing the burden of family education, increasing women's education years and strengthening adult continuing education and training will have a long-term, positive and significant impact.

Key words: risk attitude, risk aversion, field experiment, poverty, poverty alleviation

CLC Number: