The Chinese case has often been cited as an example of how rapid aggregate growth and industrialisation are
associated with poverty reduction. Yet, in fact, it illustrates quite sharply the crucial importance of growth
in agricultural incomes for poverty reduction, in a context of relatively equitable distribution of land. What
is striking about the post-reform Chinese experience with growth and its effects on poverty reduction is that
while Chinese growth was consistently high across time (except in 1989), poverty reduction was concentrated
in particular periods. The relationship between poverty reduction and growth has varied over time, being
strong at the beginning of the “reform” period and somewhat weaker afterwards