Elsevier

World Development

Volume 18, Issue 8, August 1990, Pages 1097-1110
World Development

Rural-urban disparities in India and China

https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-750X(90)90090-KGet rights and content

Abstract

This paper compares rural-urban disparities in China and India in light of differences in the following indicators: income and consumption, deposit to credit ratios, and agricultural and industrial productivity. Access to such public services as health are also considered. Reasons for disparities are sought in government policies affecting agricultural terms of trade, credit, and rural to urban migration. The paper concludes that the Chinese economy during the Mao Zedong period was much more egalitarian than the Indian; but the case is less clearcut for the Deng Xiaoping period.

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    I am grateful to two anonymous referees for helpful comments on an earlier draft of the paper. All remaining errors or omissions are my sole responsibility.

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