The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries
探讨低收入发展中国家农村家庭为何采取多种生计策略，区分了被迫多样化和主动选择多样化，并分析了季节性、风险、劳动力市场等六个决定因素，指出多样化有助于生计安全，政策应促进而非抑制多样性。
The diversity of rural livelihoods in low income developing countries is receiving increased attention in discussions about rural poverty reduction. This paper explores just one facet of livelihood diversity, namely the reasons for households to adopt multiple livelihood strategies. The distinction is made between diversification of necessity and diversification by choice. Six determinants of diversification are considered in the light of that distinction, and these are seasonality, risk, labour markets, credit markets, asset strategies, and coping strategies. The paper concludes that under the precarious conditions that characterise rural survival in many low income countries, diversification has positive attributes for livelihood security that outweigh negative connotations it may possess. Policy should facilitate rather than inhibit diversity. Diverse rural livelihoods are less vulnerable than undiversified ones.