Farmers' living standards lag 7 years behind urban residents

An "Analysis and Forecast of China's Rural Economy 2006-2007" (2007 Rural Economy Green Paper) was published by Social Sciences Academic Press on April 24.

In the Green Paper it was pointed out that the average living standard of a migrant worker is just 53.2% that of an average urban resident.

The Green Paper also noted that according to Engel's Coefficient (proportion of income spent on food) farmers' living standards are at least 7 years behind that of urbanites.

According to a sample survey and data analysis done of migrant workers in cities for the Green Paper, the average life quality index for a migrant-worker is just 0.532, almost half that of the average urban resident.

It was concluded that the per-capita net income of rural residents is growing very rapidly, but is still slow compared to the growth of the per-capita net income of urban residents. It is expected that the income gap between urban and rural residents will continue to expand in 2007 to reach 3.3:1.

By People's Daily Online