The Reasons of Income Gap between Urban and Rural Areas in China and its Policy Suggestions

This paper points out that one of the main reasons for income gap between urban and rural areas in china is difference of human capital reserve on education which are decided by Chinese government＇s urban area privileged policy and the current education system. This paper also compares the different human capital reserve in two area, and analyzes the under-qualified human capital reserve in rural areas is resulted by these following reasons： The shortage of public spending in compulsory education for several decades has contributed to low school attendance and the great illiteracy beyond urban areas; the inefficient educational system has caused peasants to lose interest in education; No support for adult education has closed the doors for adults to earn money in non-agricultural industries. Vocational schools cannot attract the huge number of potential customers since their curricula and skills are out of date. As policy suggestions, governments should invest enough money in compulsory rural education, and creating a pragmatic rural education system is also vital.

The Reasons of Income Gap between Urban and Rural Areas in China and its Policy Suggestions