China's Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction (1978—2004)

China has obtained great achievements in the area of poverty decrease since 1978 and made great contributions to the world. However, the speed of poverty reduction has slowed down since mid-1980s in spite of rapid economic growth; in addition, some new forms of poverty have arisen. The main reasons accounting for this paradox are the decrease of the quality of economic growth and the increase of the degree of income inequality. Then it is argued that new strategy for poverty reduction should be set up, including adjusting the national poverty line, enhancing the opportunities of the disadvantaged groups to participate in social activities, implementing macro-economic policies and regional developing policies in favor of poverty reduction, improving the abilities of the poor population, and so on.