Theoretical and empirical research of the relationship between rural labor transfer and rural woodland circulation

Abstract

This paper conducts a theoretical analysis of the functional mechanism underlying the influence of rural labor force transfer on woodland element circulation between rural households. Empirical test is also conducted based on econometric calculation and research statistics from rural households of two counties/cities in Zhejiang Province. The result shows: the transfer of rural surplus labor force can promote the restructuring of woodland element between rural households. It can, to some extent, promote the optimization of woodland element and labor force; this paper also finds that the woodland production in China has now a certain degree of scale economy, and woodland is still partially responsible for the livelihood of rural households. This will provide indication for the policy-making in the woodland area