Multi-Scale Evaluation and Simulation of Livelihood Efficiency in Post-Poverty Mountainous Areas

Abstract

Promoting the coordination of livelihoods at the county and farmers’ scales is essential for achieving balanced regional development and rural revitalization in post-poverty mountainous areas. Existing studies predominantly focus on farmers’ or regional livelihood capital and livelihood efficiency at a single scale, lacking research on cross-scale coordination between farmers’ and county livelihoods. Consequently, these studies fail to reveal the interactions and synergistic enhancement pathways between the two scales. This study, using the Qinba mountains in southern Shaanxi as a case, employs system dynamics to construct a coupled system dynamics model of farmers’ livelihood efficiency and county livelihood efficiency. From the perspective of livelihood capital, five regulatory modes, comprising a total of 17 scenarios, were designed and simulated. The results indicate the following data: (1) The coupling coordination degree between farmers’ livelihood efficiency and county livelihood efficiency in the Qinba mountains is 0.623, indicating a moderate level of coordination overall. However, the coupling coordination relationship requires further optimization and adjustment. Specifically, Foping exhibits a severe imbalance, while the coupling coordination degree of Shiquan, Zhashui, Baihe, Pingli, and Lan’gao is in a state of basic coordination. Additionally, 19 other counties, including Lueyang, Ningqiang, Yang, and others, exhibit moderate coordination. (2) Enhancing social or financial capital through various means typically promotes the coordinated development of farmers’ and county livelihood efficiency. On average, social capital and financial capital regulation models can increase the coupling coordination degree by 0.08 and 0.17, respectively. Additionally, strategies such as increasing fixed asset investment and regulating other capital types, including reducing arable land, also effectively improve the coupling coordination degree of farmers’ and county livelihood efficiency. This study provides a decision-making basis for improving the coordination of farmers’ and county livelihoods in post-poverty mountainous areas, thereby promoting economic development and intensive resource utilization. It assists in formulating more precise policy measures and offers a reference for sustainable development and rural revitalization in similar regions.