Livelihood resilience and the generative mechanism of rural households out of poverty: An empirical analysis from Lankao County, Henan Province, China

Poverty reduction is a common challenge facing the whole world. China has taken a series of anti-poverty measures and great achievements have been made. However, the question of how to lift and keep rural households above poverty line remains a worthy subject of academic attention. Building on surveyed results in Lankao County in Henan province of China, this study proposes a theoretical framework for explaining the paths to achieving the livelihood resilience of rural households after shaking off poverty. We analyze the generative mechanisms of livelihood resilience of rural households. Results show that the livelihood resilience of the households who have shaken off poverty is closely related to their capacity to utilize accessible resources, learn new knowledge and exploit external resources. Households having modern agricultural productive systems or living in specialized villages have a relatively high level of resilience than those do not. Three types of capacities are identified as the Triggers, Pushers and Optimizers, respectively, acting on the generative process of livelihood resilience for households. They interact among one another to promote households' livelihood resilience. Finally, we propose that China should take additional measures to enhance rural households’ livelihood resilience to facilitate a sustainable development. More importantly, such experience is of great value for improving livelihood resilience of rural households in China and other developing countries. •We propose a theoretical framework to check the livelihood resilience and generative mechanism of households out of poverty.•The livelihood resilience of the households who have shaken off poverty is closely related to their three types of capacity.•Households involving modern agricultural productive systems have a relatively high level of resilience than those do not.•Three types of capacity interact among one another to promote households' livelihood resilience.