Economic Development Differences Related to Off-farm Industries'' Contribution in Mountainous Areas of China
中国山区经济发展差异与非农产业的贡献

Based on the units of 26 prefectures and 66 counties, 9 typical mountainous areas, including Da-Xiao Hinggan Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, Taihang Mountains, Yimeng Mountains, Qilian Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, Karst Mountains, Wuling Mountains and Dongnan Mountains, were selected to analyze the state of off-farm income. After comparison with plains as well as developed regions, the results show that the average agricultural output per capita in plain and mountainous areas is both lower than 2000 yuan RMB without much difference, but the difference is much bigger in output value of off-farm industries between plain and mountainous areas. The output value of off-farm industries accounts for about 90% of GDP in plain areas, but in mountainous areas it is 70% of GDP. The authors therefore conclude that the "poverty" in mountainous areas or the gap between mountainous areas and plain areas lies in the underdevelopment of off-farm industries in mountainous areas.Also, this study indicates that agricultural growth trend in China is strongly correlated with growth of off-farm industries--the curve of net income from off-farm industries reflects the general characteristics of net income of households. That is to say that increase of net income of farm households is chiefly from off-farm industries, more than from agriculture.