Public Service Delivery and the Livelihood Adaptive Capacity of Farmers and Herders: The Mediating Effect of Livelihood Capital

Abstract

Improving the provision and equitable accessibility of public services is an important aspect of poverty alleviation and necessary for rural revitalization. Farmers’ livelihood adaptive capacity is an important foundation for rural revitalization, and the mechanism by which it is influenced by public service delivery requires clarification. In this study, we construct a theoretical framework of public service delivery–livelihood capital–livelihood adaptive capacitiy of farmers and herders to measure the level and quality of public service delivery, based on the level of satisfaction of 334 farmers and herders we surveyed. The relationship between the three elements was verified using mediated effects analysis, which helped to accurately identify the key shortcomings of public service delivery and improve the delivery of public services to enhance the sustainable livelihood adaptive capacity of farmers and herders. We found that public service delivery has a significant positive impact on the livelihood adaptive capacity of farmers and herders, while livelihood capital plays an important mediating role, enhancing the direct impact of public service delivery. Thus, the government should pay attention to this transfer mechanism and actively cultivate farmers’ and herders’ livelihood capital to optimize the effects of rural public service delivery.

A study on livelihood capital, social adaptation, and life satisfaction—empirical analysis based on ecological migration in the Kalajun world natural heritage site

“…The flow of energy between various types of capital is pyramidal, with financial capital at the highest level (Callaghan et al, 2008). Livelihood capital is the most important factor influencing the livelihood transition of a population and determines the efficiency of the livelihood transition (Zhong et al, 2022). Sustainable livelihoods are characterised by security, adaptation to stress, and income diversification (Chambers et al, 1992).…”

The coupling coordination between rural public services and rural tourism and its causative factors: The case study of southwestern China

“…Persistent imbalances in the supply of public services in rural China have arisen due to various factors, including the natural environment, socio-economic factors, and issues within the social sector. These challenges have contributed to disparities in the availability and quality of public services across different rural regions in the country, i.e., inadequate overall supply, low service levels, and limited utilization rates [ 5 ], which to a certain extent do not match the needs of the growing development of rural tourism, transforming it to a short-board that restricts the high-quality development of rural tourism [ 6 ]. This disparity is particularly evident in economically disadvantaged areas with limited access to natural resources [ 7 , 8 ].…”