Comprehensive Development in Mountainous Areas: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Evidence from the Taihang Mountains

Author: Yan Ruizhen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: "The Taihang Mountain Road" is a successful model of poverty alleviation and wealth creation in mountainous areas. This book summarizes the experience of "The Taihang Mountain Road" based on the economic and social development of the Taihang Mountains in Hebei Province over the past two decades. The mountainous areas are still in a sub-natural economic state, which fundamentally restricts their comprehensive economic and social development. How to integrate into the tide of the market economy is a fundamental issue to be solved in the development process of mountainous areas. This book proposes that the correct development path for mountainous areas should be: closely centered around cultivating a socialist market economy in impoverished areas, taking comprehensive measures from ecological, economic, technological, and social aspects, giving full play to the positive role of the market economy, removing unfavorable factors, and helping farmers take the path of sustainable development. Based on the analysis of the basic development model of the Taihang Mountains—the construction of ecological-economic gullies—this book conducts an in-depth study on institutional innovation and land property rights in the mountainous areas. It also explores financing issues and technological progress during the development process, analyzes the utilization of resources such as mountains, labor, minerals, and climate, as well as the selection of pillar industries, industrial support systems, and the construction of "Mountain Pass Towns." Additionally, the book examines the development of social security systems in mountainous areas, human resource development, the regulation of the enthusiasm of various economic entities, the management of relationships between cadres and the people, between impoverished and non-impoverished populations, the role of rural grassroots organizations, and the construction of spiritual civilization.