Towards a coexistence of economic integration and poverty alleviation: tentative output of the ECOIN project during 2006-2007

摘要

This paper describes the current progress of a four-year research project entitled "Impact Analyses of Economic Integration on Agriculture and Policy Proposals toward Poverty Alleviation in Rural East Asia (ECOIN)". The project aims at clarifying the impacts of economic integration on East Asian (South-East Asia and China) agriculture, especially on diversified high-value agriculture, and diversified income resources and employment opportunities through farming-marketing integration, thereby determining ways to take advantage of economic integration for poverty reduction and to minimize negative influences. The paper summarizes the major findings of country studies (China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Thailand) conducted during 2006-07. Both positive and negative impacts of regional economic integration can be observed. Economic integration will force farmers to compete with imported commodities and if it works effectively, the farmers who produce products with higher competitiveness may enjoy better profits from expanded export opportunities. On the other hand, the farmers who produce products with less competitiveness should switch their products to the others with higher competitiveness and profits. However, the actual cases are more complicated and there is no one-fit-for-all solution.